[Info-vax] Dave Cutler, Prism, DEC, Microsoft, etc.

[Bob Eager]

On Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:32:59 +0000, Robin Fairbairns wrote:

> Bob Eager <rde42 at spamcop.net> writes:
>>On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:49:59 -0500, Rich Alderson wrote:
>>> It depends on how one views the discipline.  In departments in which
>>> it is viewed as a mathematical discipline, there is little need for
>>> programming skills, or exposure to any user interface, whether command
>>> line or graphical, to move forward in one's studies.  Analysis of
>>> algorithmic complexity, proof of correctness, etc. are the bread and
>>> butter of the field.
>>> 
>>> In departments in which it is viewed as an engineering discipline,
>>> compiler construction and other issues of language implementation,
>>> design of operating systems, and the like, are studied.
>>
>>One of my colleagues is fond of describing the CS degree at one of the
>>very oldest universities in the UK thus:
> 
> hmmm.  you wouldn't be thinking of a university that's invented an 800
> year history for itself?

Not that one, perish the thought. Our department was modelled in many 
ways on your own.

>>"A core of mathematics, surrounded by....mathematics."
> 
> because that's not really true of this place.  lots of practical
> courses; the students get to choose whether they specialise in
> mathematical disciplines or in practical ones.  either way, they have to
> demonstrate practical ability in assessed exercises.

Absolutely. Mind, we did nick one of your students recently!

>>There are obvious cases where the reverse applies, and it's largely to
>>do with the university department that originally spawned the CS
>>department there.
>>
>>Where I work, the department grew up independently so it's pretty well
>>in the middle.
> 
> mind you, i've not built a *real* compiler in all my working life, and
> certainly not as a student.  (things like lex and yacc derived from
> monsters like the "compiler compiler" that took the whole of the
> mainframe's memory in the 60s to run, and so wasn't used much...)

Oh, I did. But in the 1970s, and by hand...a fairly simple recursive 
descent one. That was given to second year students at Essex (as an 
option) and also to the MSc students (of which I was one).

I then taught compiler writing for a number of years, and we did make 
them write a simple compiler. And I've also written a couple for money...

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