Re: What databases have taught me

From: AndrewMcDonagh <newsamd_at_amc.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 20:39:38 +0100
Message-ID: <e93j6l$cmv$1_at_news.freedom2surf.net>


Bob Badour wrote:
> topmind wrote:
>

>> Bruno Desthuilliers wrote:
>>
>>> Bob Badour wrote:
>>>
>>>> topmind wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Tony D wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> topmind wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Tony D wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> without resorting to stuffing
>>>>>>>> some more-or-less random test cases through it as some kind of
>>>>>>>> demonstration that it kind-of, maybe, perhaps does what we want 
>>>>>>>> it to,
>>>>>>>> for these semi-random test cases at least ?"
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I have kicked around approaches to measure the code impact of 
>>>>>>> various
>>>>>>> change scenarios. The problem is that people also perceive change
>>>>>>> differently, I've found out, such that they would assign different
>>>>>>> frequency estimates, which were required to get a total score.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Exactly. You've "kicked around approaches to measure the code 
>>>>>> impact of
>>>>>> various change scenarios". But without being able to formally reason
>>>>>> about behaviour in the abstract, before a piece of code is even
>>>>>> written, you're fighting a losing battle, making more-or-less 
>>>>>> educated
>>>>>> guesses.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Again, it is not clear to me what you are proposing. Formal proving is
>>>>> not a common industry practice.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> And your point would be? You seem to be trying to make a claim about
>>>> computing science, but you measure that by the properties of industry
>>>> practice. Given that many of us think the state of the industry is
>>>> appalling and characterized mostly by ignorance, misconception and
>>>> anti-intellectualism, you won't convince many of us with that sort of
>>>> non sequitur.
>>>
>>> Bob,
>>>
>>> "topmind" is our pet crank here on comp.object.

>
> I have been aware of topmind for many years. While I don't always agree
> with him, he exhibits none of the psychosis common among cranks. Bruno,
> you, on the other hand, quickly and easily made it into my twit-filter.
>

Bruno - that'll be because Bob doesn't agree with you. And those that Bob doesn't agree with - he filters.

its quite a brilliant of deferred learning on his part. Received on Wed Jul 12 2006 - 21:39:38 CEST

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