November « 2004 « Sub Ubi

Exploring occam

By matt, on November 30th, 2004%

When time presents itself, I want to start exploring a question that has come up lately: if you were to write a compiler today, what language would you use? This has some pertinence to the Transterpreter project, although not for the immediately foreseeable future.

That said, I thought I’d play a bit with occam as an expression . . . → Read More: Exploring occam

PLT v299 is too sweet

By matt, on November 23rd, 2004%

In a file called lib.c:

int addTwo(int x, int y) {
return x + y;
}

Compiled on the Powerbook with:
gcc -dynamiclib -o lib.dylib lib.c

Then, in DrScheme v299:

(require (lib “foreign.ss”))
(define addTwo
(get-ffi-obj
“addTwo” “lib”
(_fun _int _int -> _int)))

And, in the interactions window, I can now use:

> (addTwo 2 2)
4

That is so very . . . → Read More: PLT v299 is too sweet

Busy week

By matt, on November 19th, 2004%

This week was (is) busy. I had at least one seminar to attend every day, teaching Monday evening, a draft of an ITiCSE paper for Tuesday (due for submission this Monday), gave talk Thursday (with CSCS in the evening), and a trip to Wales today. I’ll return Monday, ship the paper, and teach from 6PM to . . . → Read More: Busy week

Missing semicolon … missing semicolon…

By matt, on November 15th, 2004%

I have to admit, I’m getting kinda tired of syntax errors. I mean, analyzing real data generated by real students who are really learning to program is cool and all, but… geez. You can get sick of syntax errors.

I have never understood people who get . . . → Read More: Missing semicolon … missing semicolon…

Truth in Humour

By matt, on November 10th, 2004%

One of the CSCS guys dropped this link my way via IM:

To the Citizens of the United States of America

A brief taste:

In the light of your failure to elect a proper President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth . . . → Read More: Truth in Humour

Lock your domains

By matt, on November 10th, 2004%

It looks like ICAAN, the regulating body for domain names and whatnot on the internet, just made an evil policy change; hopefully, Netcraft is reporting this incorrectly–but most likely, they’re on top of things.

Update: I reacted to an internet scare; there was a policy change, but it wasn’t as evil as was originally thought. However, locking . . . → Read More: Lock your domains

Another CSCS Weblog

By matt, on November 9th, 2004%

Another CSCS weblog has come online; this one belongs to Jon Simpson, a first-year in the CS department. He’s also taking a poke at getting the Zaurus working with the Brainstem–meaning, he’s getting our handheld computer of choice talking to the motor and sensor controller that we’ll be using on our larger atomic death robots!

Unfortunately, we . . . → Read More: Another CSCS Weblog

America has spoken

By matt, on November 3rd, 2004%

The American people have spoken.

There is no rational explanation for why Bush should have been re-elected. His administration has tanked the economy, demolished America’s image on the global stage, started a war–unprovoked–without international support, and with no clear plan for the aftermath.

“It made America safer.” If I hear this again, I’ll be sick. We invaded . . . → Read More: America has spoken

In unrelated news…

By matt, on November 1st, 2004%

Choco-choco-choco hoops! The chocolate stays in the hoops, and the hoops taste like flour!

Upcoming jingle from the B&M Music . . . → Read More: In unrelated news…

Election day

By matt, on November 1st, 2004%

Tomorrow is election day in the USA.

I was looking at the current electoral vote predictions, and I’m worried. I look at all those States in the middle, and I can’t help but think of the “Ugly American” tourists and short-stay students I’ve met since I’ve been here. People who rarely get out of their own county, . . . → Read More: Election day

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