Sadly, this was on a PS2, and printf() is slooooowww on a PS2, so I couldn't really keep that in the shipping code. Oh well. In the end, I had to actually fix the bug. Bloody deferred rendering, grrr, etc.
Of course, as many people who debug multi-threaded programs have found, using print routines to output logs can make the bug 'go away', because quite often CRT functions like printf() etc are mutex'd, which serialises code execution, and thus alters the timing, and voila, race condition begone!
Just a guess, but maybe the PnP config in the BIOS was borked. If enough of that gets weird, maybe some autodetect stuff fails. If you ever get a system problem like that again, try to reset the BIOS PnP stuff.
Well, if you're looking at the basic structure of Windows, then with NT (and derivatives), 'windows environment subsystem' is common term. The Posix environment subsystem is another one.
So they're not totally making it up. That's not to say they're not making the rest up, of course:-)
When the subject comes up and I express my feelings against it, the two responses I always seem to get are "Well, why not have it?" and "I've got nothing to hide".
For future reference, on the second question (nothing to hide), here's the simplest and most effective response I've yet heard to that point of view:
Ok, so why do we have a secret ballot?
I sometimes wish watching repeats of "Yes, Minister" were a precondition to being allowed to vote. Especially the one about 'salami tactics'.
The only shared libraries are the ones built into the OS. (The OS was on ROM, so version incompatibilties didn't really exist like they would with the disk based OS's we use today).
Well, you know, except they did. There were plenty of updates to OS modules, if I remember correctly - the CRT lib definitely got updated. Remember the !System folder? And how screwed you were if you didn't have one around? And you could only get the latest version of the shared CRT lib directly from Acorn or an Acorn dealer. You weren't even allowed to just give it to your friends. For Windows, this would be like Microsoft preventing you from distributing msvcrt.dll to anyone.
!boot was executed when the filemanager loaded the directory and was responsible for replacing the applications default 'dir' icon with one that represented the application function.
And also responsible for a number of !boot viruses, that could infect your machine even if you just opened a filer view onto a floppy. Not even Windows can do that:-).
It's interesting to note, and most people don't know this (to the extent that they'll tell me I'm dead wrong), but the Vaio series of computers were initially supposed to be Macintosh based systems.
But Apple wouldn't let Sony license the tech (i.e. make 'clones'), so Sony shifted the work onto producing Intel machines instead.
Are you referring to the combat in Prince of Persia: Sands of Time? If so, I actually quite liked that. I got kind of annoyed when you'd meet stronger enemies who could block you when you tried to run up them and so on, but it made me actually start using blocking manoeuvres and so on, and made be better at the fighting part, and enjoyed it.
On the other hand, if you're talking about the original Prince of Persia games, then yes, I totally agree:)
I mention Sony because, as far as I know, they say nothing about how you should develop the content of your game.
If it helps, I think that's how all the console manufacturers are now. There are certain things they might not allow - for example, for PS1 games, it used to be an automatic failure if you had a church in your game. It didn't matter what the context or purpose was, Sony just didn't want religious imagery/buildings in PS games. I expect that rule is no longer in force (I haven't checked).
I don't think Nintendo enforce these creative controls in the way you think they do. I've not seen any such rules when I was working on Gamecube stuff (but maybe I just missed them).
Sony, MS and Nintendo are all the same in this respect, I think - they want good games. Certain things will give them pause for thought (pornography, repeated overly graphic and realistic violence - perhaps), and all 3 have the power to veto your title, because they publish the discs.
But, as has been said many times, if you think Nintendo only allow games suitable for 5+ yrs, go play Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, Burnout etc.
They certainly have an in-house style which leans towards softer imagery and brighter palettes, but they don't enforce that on 3rd party developers. Or, sometimes, even 2nd party - look at Conker's Bad Fur Day.
It's entirely appropriate for them to have a house style for 1st party games if they want, because [a] they're footing the bill for development, and [b] they are the games which often sell the platform (at least initially).
I expect I'm being anal by pointing out that you're using the word incorrectly.
He's not being anal - bad spelling does detract from the message. For instance, I can't actually tell whether the original poster made all the mistakes they did on purpose or not. If they were doing it to prove how the brain copes, then it didn't work - I stumbled over the message at every error.
If the errors weren't intentional, then, oh my.
And as for the original poster's comment:
On that note: Notice how of all the intelectual fields the only ones that are anal about spelling are the technical fields?
Try talking to some authors/writers, or anyone who relies on good communication in their job.
Move to Europe (or possibly just anywhere outside the US) where we have sensible payment plans, where you only pay for calls you make, not the ones you receive (you know, like every other phone billing system you've ever encountered).
Huh. I guess that doesn't help you much. I just felt like saying it, because whenever I say it about 15 Americans will tell me I'm wrong wrong wrong;-)
Slashdot Mirror
You kids! Get a haircut!
I know your Dad!
Are you crazy? This sounds like exactly the kind of thing that applies to the real world!
Or are you saying bureaucratic messups don't happen in the real world too? :-)
"Johnson?"
Hey, never thought of that! :-)
Sadly, this was on a PS2, and printf() is slooooowww on a PS2, so I couldn't really keep that in the shipping code. Oh well. In the end, I had to actually fix the bug. Bloody deferred rendering, grrr, etc.
Of course, as many people who debug multi-threaded programs have found, using print routines to output logs can make the bug 'go away', because quite often CRT functions like printf() etc are mutex'd, which serialises code execution, and thus alters the timing, and voila, race condition begone!
:-S
I know it's happened to me
Heh...that's set me up for the day! Thanks :)
"Get on that teletext!"
Holy crap. In that case I change my advice to "Lose that piece of junk"
:)
Oh wait, you did...
Just a guess, but maybe the PnP config in the BIOS was borked. If enough of that gets weird, maybe some autodetect stuff fails. If you ever get a system problem like that again, try to reset the BIOS PnP stuff.
:)
Last resort, though
Well, if you're looking at the basic structure of Windows, then with NT (and derivatives), 'windows environment subsystem' is common term. The Posix environment subsystem is another one.
:-)
So they're not totally making it up. That's not to say they're not making the rest up, of course
(It mostly sounds like nonsense to me too)
For future reference, on the second question (nothing to hide), here's the simplest and most effective response I've yet heard to that point of view:
I sometimes wish watching repeats of "Yes, Minister" were a precondition to being allowed to vote. Especially the one about 'salami tactics'.
Counter-strike for Xbox.
You think that UI design is about where to put buttons and labels?
:)
I think you may be both missing and proving the point at the same time
You're new here, aren't you?
Actually, pornography can just be lurid or sensational material.
I downloaded RealPlayer today, on the strength of the claims Real made that were reported in the CarTalk story.
:)
They still have an annoying registration scheme - but I just put in nothanks@real.com.
Straight away it came back with "This email address is already registered!"
So I thought, I guess they're filtering out real.com addresses - some basic intelligence there.
But no, nothanks3947237@real.com went through fine.
Not really sure I follow that line of logic. If you've got a boot sector virus, then, well, you're kind of already infected, are you not?
To get infected by a boot sector virus on a floppy on a PC, you'd have to boot off the floppy, not just open an explorer view onto it.
Viruses were few and far between on RISC OS (and still are).
Just like all the other types of software, then :-)
It's interesting to note, and most people don't know this (to the extent that they'll tell me I'm dead wrong), but the Vaio series of computers were initially supposed to be Macintosh based systems.
:)
But Apple wouldn't let Sony license the tech (i.e. make 'clones'), so Sony shifted the work onto producing Intel machines instead.
See, you learn something new every day
Yeah, sure. Diamonds are real scarce.
Are you referring to the combat in Prince of Persia: Sands of Time? If so, I actually quite liked that. I got kind of annoyed when you'd meet stronger enemies who could block you when you tried to run up them and so on, but it made me actually start using blocking manoeuvres and so on, and made be better at the fighting part, and enjoyed it.
On the other hand, if you're talking about the original Prince of Persia games, then yes, I totally agree :)
Yeah, but I bet even someone as illiterate as you seem to think he is could learn the rules for apostrophe usage ;-)
If it helps, I think that's how all the console manufacturers are now. There are certain things they might not allow - for example, for PS1 games, it used to be an automatic failure if you had a church in your game. It didn't matter what the context or purpose was, Sony just didn't want religious imagery/buildings in PS games. I expect that rule is no longer in force (I haven't checked).
I don't think Nintendo enforce these creative controls in the way you think they do. I've not seen any such rules when I was working on Gamecube stuff (but maybe I just missed them).
Sony, MS and Nintendo are all the same in this respect, I think - they want good games. Certain things will give them pause for thought (pornography, repeated overly graphic and realistic violence - perhaps), and all 3 have the power to veto your title, because they publish the discs.
But, as has been said many times, if you think Nintendo only allow games suitable for 5+ yrs, go play Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, Burnout etc.
They certainly have an in-house style which leans towards softer imagery and brighter palettes, but they don't enforce that on 3rd party developers. Or, sometimes, even 2nd party - look at Conker's Bad Fur Day.
It's entirely appropriate for them to have a house style for 1st party games if they want, because [a] they're footing the bill for development, and [b] they are the games which often sell the platform (at least initially).
Whatever he is, he doesn't seem to be a moron.
I expect I'm being anal by pointing out that you're using the word incorrectly.
He's not being anal - bad spelling does detract from the message. For instance, I can't actually tell whether the original poster made all the mistakes they did on purpose or not. If they were doing it to prove how the brain copes, then it didn't work - I stumbled over the message at every error.
If the errors weren't intentional, then, oh my.
And as for the original poster's comment:
Try talking to some authors/writers, or anyone who relies on good communication in their job.
Aha! It's my favourite demographic acronym!
:-)
LOMBARD - Lots Of Money But A Right Dickhead
Move to Europe (or possibly just anywhere outside the US) where we have sensible payment plans, where you only pay for calls you make, not the ones you receive (you know, like every other phone billing system you've ever encountered).
;-)
Huh. I guess that doesn't help you much. I just felt like saying it, because whenever I say it about 15 Americans will tell me I'm wrong wrong wrong