Re: port I/O abstraction macros

Le Chaud Lapin wrote:
Tom Lucas wrote:

I see little point in graduating knowing how to write a compiler
or design an FM radio unless you are directly going into Sony's
Radio Compiler division. Knowing what a compiler does and the
sort of tricks current optimisers play will be more useful in the
real world than knowing how to parse an arithmetic expression.
Similarly knowing about RF, demodulation and amplifiers is more
useful to the real world than an rudimentary FM radio kit.

There seems to be a bit of a contradiction here. You seem to be
saying that shallow practice is not good (FM kit), but you also
seem to be saying that basic theory (being able to parse
arithmetic expressions) is not good either.

.... snip ...

For the compiler, I think it is very important to be able to
parse arithmetic expressions. Knowledge of automata theory can
be invaluable. For my current job, I recently had to make a
small compiler for a stack machine. Here's the tokenizer for
lexical analysis:

You don't have to go to school to learn those things. But it
helps, as does the ability to read. On c.l.c we see many newbies
totally confused about how to handle interactive input, when all
they need is to build some sort of primitive lexer. I have even
had relatively experienced people argue over the need for one char
lookahead.

--
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we.
They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country
and our people, and neither do we." -- G. W. Bush.
"The people can always be brought to the bidding of the
leaders. All you have to do is tell them they are being
attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism
and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way
in any country." --Hermann Goering.


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Relevant Pages

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