On Mon, 12 Oct 2009, Rich Shepard wrote: > Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:18:38 -0700 (PDT) > From: Rich Shepard <[email protected]> > Reply-To: "General Linux/UNIX discussion and help; civil and on-topic" > <[email protected]> > To: "General Linux/UNIX discussion and help; civil and on-topic" > <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [PLUG] London Stock Exchange - $Soft out, Linux/Solaris in > > On Mon, 12 Oct 2009, Pete Lancashire wrote: > >> Maybe, but in a recent discussion in a (near) real time list and from >> Linus's own recent rant the kernel is getting bloated. > > Pete, > > In my naivete I assumed the idea was for the linux kernel to be small and > additional resources added as needed as modules. I thought that for a > single-purpose computer the requisite modules could be compiled into the > kernel for speed, but doing so is a user option rather than a default for > everyone. > >> Another place I am aware of is doing HFT, High Frequency Trading. These >> are the guys that are trying to shave not milliseconds but microseconds >> off. They make the stock exchange guys look like they are using >> calculators. They only have 60 employees, 12 with PhDs and have a full >> time kernel hacker. They never even considered $Soft, they still do work >> with a couple of 12 proc 4 core Suns. Alas they are not in PDX. > > From what I've read one of the major reasons for the collapse of the > financial systems are these finance and math PhDs who create derivatives and > mathematical models that are not only too obtuse for anyone to understand > (including the authors), but have serious unintended consequences. > > Rich
I have experience working with math PhDs who were being employed as java developers. Their code was horrendous. One-letter variable names, 2000-line functions, the works. Our rule was to never touch their code under any circumstances for fear that the entire system would collapse. Spooky premonition of the financial collapse, if Rich is right. Carlos _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
