[Info-vax] Roadmap

[Dave Froble]

On 1/3/2019 11:37 AM, gezelter at rlgsc.com wrote:
> On Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at 9:51:03 AM UTC-5, John Reagan wrote:
>> On Tuesday, January 1, 2019 at 8:26:51 PM UTC-5, Richard Maher wrote:
>>> On 2/01/2019 1:05 am, John Reagan wrote:
>>>> I'll stop short of offering Snapchat of me typing in my cubicle.
>>>>
>>>> Here's a 'blog' entry for you New Year's enjoyment.
>>>>
>>>> I've been working on the build of the math RTL.  It uses lots of C
>>>> macros to allow the code to be portable (DPML stands for Digital
>>>> Portable Math Library after all).  On Alpha, the C macros use Alpha
>>>> instruction builtins.  On Itanium, the macros use standard C code but
>>>> lots of C routines have been replaced with Itanium assemble.  For
>>>> x86, I need to pick pieces from both flavors.  I describe it as
>>>> Mister Potato Head.  Im making header changes as well as build file
>>>> changes.  The core algorithms are exactly the same ones on Alpha.
>>>> Should take just another day or so to get a complete DPML$SHR.EXE
>>>>
>>>
>>> Cool!
>>>
>>> And you added that new/optional parameter to math$random right?
>>
>> I'm not falling for that again...  The last time I suggested such a thing, I got schooled in PRNGs.
>>
>> Seriously, we've been talking about PRNGs, entropy pools, OpenSSL, etc.  Having access to the underlying x86 instructions (either as C builtins, new MATH$ entry points, enhanced MATH$ entry points, etc.) will be a part of that.
>
> John,
>
> My recommendation would be for an essentially "flat" port, with changes deferred to a later point.
>
> - Bob Gezelter, http://www.rlgsc.com
>

Well, yeah ....

We fools that build homebuilt experimental aircraft have a term for such.

90% done, 90% to go ....

Tasks usually work out best if sticking to the design goals, and 
avoiding requirement creep.  It can go on forever.

The other side of the argument is, "it will be easiest to do it right 
the first time".  Never black or white, always gray.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
Vanderbilt, PA  15486