Hardware/doc preservatoion, was Re: rarest computers.

[Paul Koning]

>>>>> "Steven" == Steven N Hirsch <shirsch at adelphia.net> writes:

 Steven> On Thu, 5 Aug 2004, Paul Koning wrote:
 >> >>>>> "Steven" == Steven N Hirsch <shirsch at adelphia.net> writes:
 >> 
 Steven> On Wed, 4 Aug 2004, ben franchuk wrote:
 >> >> PS. Years ago in BYTE ( early 1990's? ) they had spoke up of a
 >> CPU >> designed for reliable operation for real time control of
 >> things >> like power plants or subways or aircraft. They claimed
 >> it was so >> simple that programs could be proven to be bug
 >> free. I was >> wondering if they manufactured or sold any the
 >> devices.
 >> 
 Steven> That would be the British "Viper" CPU.  Computational theory
 Steven> suggests (proves, perhaps? - it's been a few years) that use
 Steven> of hardware or software stacks renders behavior
 Steven> indeterminate.
 >>  Baloney.  Anyone who has paid any attention to Dijkstra knows
 >> that such a statement would have to be complete and utter
 >> nonsense.

 Steven> <shrug> I'm only going by what I recall from the Byte
 Steven> article. Let's not start a religous war, please?

I wouldn't think of this as a religious war.  You started by quoting
an assertion that could be proven if it were true, and I pointed out
that it cannot possible be true.  It may be a mathematical war, but
not a religious one.

If Byte was accurate quoting an assertion from the company, it sounds
like they have a nice crew of snake oil marketeers. 

    paul