learning the instruction set might be easier, but writing programs is harder. part of the problem is you have fewer instructions, it's like knowing fewer words, or for example trying to explain the birds and the bees to a 4 year old as opposed to a high schooler. also risc instructions can often be combined, i.e. you may right several lines that do different things, but sometimes some of those instructions can be merged together (and sometimes not just adjacent lines of code, sometimes lines several lines apart can be merged, followed by lines that were ahead of parts of the composite instruction and some that were behind parts of it) so it's not as linear as the way people normally think about algorithms and language. generally compilers are much better at the optimization than humans because it gets ugly fast. just think about multiple lines of code being regrouped and combined into fewer lines in a complex pattern. it's enough to give most people a headache and make them really regret learning how to program when it's done by hand, which of course it has to be until the compilers are written. which are followed by writing the os and better compilers with the "base" compiler that was painfully written in a non-optimal way.
Mark Benson wrote: ------ > Programming with a reduced instruction set is surely easier? Or > maybe he just didn't like having to string the instructions > together to make up the other parts. Don't ask me - I'm a > geologist ;) ------- -- "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." - Helen Keller, American Blind/Deaf Author & Lecturer... -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Macintosh? Get free email and more at Applelinks! <http://www.applelinks.com>
