Re: Formal Semantics of the Java "new" Operator

From: Kent Paul Dolan (xanthian_at_well.com)
Date: 04/30/04 

Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 00:52:52 +0000 (UTC)

"Mattias Wikstr?m" <mattias_wikst71@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I am interested in approaches to formally describing what the Java
> "new" operator does. I have not been able to find any books that cover
> this subject, though I am sure there must be.

> What has caught my attention about the "new" operator is that it
> returns a new object each time it is called. I do not see how to model
> this, because mathematics is static -- at least by the traditional
> conception -- and has no room for the creation of new things.

You have some things really muddled in your mind.

Math returns _lots_ of new things; 4 = 2 + 2 returns a new thing, a
sum, given two old things, an augend and an addend.

The Java _new_ operator is an implementation detail of computer
memory storage management, completely independent of mathematics.

Math doesn't _have_ issues of storage mangement, because math
isn't a physical science that stores things.

Math _is_ used in _analyzing_ issues in physical sciences that have
requirements for managing units of storage correctly and efficiently.

xanthian. 

-- 
Posted via Mailgate.ORG Server - http://www.Mailgate.ORG

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Demographics in online music... yadadadaymean
    ... house I dont want to deal with. ... What's the math on the storage anyway if you wanted to rip 2000 cds? ... The problem is figure maybe 3 minutes to rip each cd, ... Mr. Xenos your math and estimation skills are admirable. ...
    (rec.music.hip-hop)
  • Re: Precision problem in VBasic 6
    ... I think the differentiation you're trying to make between storage and "math" ... is a bit iffy Lee. ... the "math" is an integral part of the floating-point specification. ... instructions specifically for decimal and numeric strings. ...
    (microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion)
  • Re: ZFS
    ... > never seem to have enough storage. ... > I've seen lots of FUD and bad math on this thread, ... > vendors already ship systems with on the order of 1 petabyte ...
    (freebsd-hackers)
  • Re: Functions are not fundamental to databases. Realtion are.
    ... definitions of these mathematical terms and let me know if that is not ... > The most fundamental objects in mathematics are functions and sets (=> ... This newsgroup is about storage, ... >>> Dawn, ...
    (comp.databases.theory)
  • Functions are not fundamental to databases. Realtion are.
    ... The most fundamental objects in mathematics are functions and sets (=> ... This newsgroup is about storage, ... >> dawn wrote: ... How do you define a candidate key in mathematics so ...
    (comp.databases.theory)