On Sunday 12 November 2006 14:26, Randall R Schulz wrote:
> > >> > Programmers are applied mathematicians. The basis of all
> > >> > software is mathematical logic of one sort or another.
> > >>
> > >> Grossly over stated.
> > >
> > >Not overstated in the slightest. It is exactly and completely true.
No...
Programmers are software text authors who rely upon an underpinning of
applied mathematics and hardware logic circuits... this attempts to be
partially and mostly true.
Many software authors are neither applied (nor theoretical)
mathematicians... to the chargrin of several of us. And like yourself, I too
am from the older school where computer science sprang out of the math
department. Our math department was the *first* department on campus to own a
mini-computer (pre personal computer era ~1970s). However, I must agree with
Kai that the foundation of even mathematics is in fact language... and
language (at least written language) is text symbology of some kind. I did an
enormous amount of commercial business programming most of which didn't even
calculate... it was all about organization of data, data mining, data
distribution and data display. It really had nothing what-so-ever to do with
mathematics... other than we all know that the entire system is a giant
binary (math) emulator. As a software text author I really could have cared
less (at least on those projects).
Having said all of that... I must admit that I agree with the basic
spirit of your heart argument... because I still really believe in my heart
of hearts that all of computer science really does in fact spring out of
mathematics. And as such, can be built (or may I say rebuilt) from a
foundation of axioms (just like mathematics). Because this is true, none of
that progression (building) can be patented because all of it can (and will)
be discovered by *anyone* who begins to build from the same axiomatic
foundation. If I give you *point*, *line*, and *plane* eventually you will
derive Euclidian geometry. It doesn't belong to anyone... because it is
mathematical truth which can be discovered (built) by anyone... and it
therefore (given enough time) is in fact obvious to everyone... eventually.
Much if not all of computer science is just like that... eventually (given a
von Neuman processor and appropriate instruction set) all truths (algorithms)
of computer science will be discovered (or rediscovered) by anyone who spends
enough time building on same. The tower (geometric structure) of computer
science software cannot be patanted for the same reason that mathematical
truth (proof) cannot be patented (in my view) because it is all a logical
progression (may I even say an obvious) given enough time at construction.
--
Kind regards,
M Harris <><
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