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From: pjd@cwruecmp.UUCP (Dr. Funk)
Newsgroups: net.cse,net.micro,net.research
Subject: Machines, architectures and education.
Message-ID: <1118@cwruecmp.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 24-Mar-84 15:52:10 EST
Article-I.D.: cwruecmp.1118
Posted: Sat Mar 24 15:52:10 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 25-Mar-84 19:04:29 EST
Organization: CWRU Computer Engr. Cleveland, Ohio
Lines: 27

Can't resist putting in my two cents....

What is "state of the art" or "cutting edge?" Subjective terms
such as these will always draw flames from the religous zealots. :-)

Although it is important for undergraduates to learn at least one
particular machine and operating system in depth, they should be
exposed to a broad spectrum of systems and philosophies. Neophyte
architects/system programmers cannot gain an historical perspective
overnight. By learning one system in depth and then comparing and
contrasting with others, the student will develop taste and hopefully
a list of mistakes to avoid in the future.

As an undergraduate (and Oh God am I about to date myself) I learned
the PDP-10, TOPS-10 and BLISS in depth. I had TSS/360 and various
PDP-11's and a host of programming languages for comparison. Hence,
I settled on Unix and 11's early (1975) and am now looking forward
to 68000, 32032, etc. and whatever will be invented AFTER Unix.

My only gripe -- manufacturers don't spread it around enough. I'd
really like to expose my students to a spectrum of machines and
operating systems, but it takes capital. (Apologies to those firms
who have helped us in the past.


paul drongowski				decvax!cwruecmp!pjd
case western reserve university		pjd.Case@Rand-Relay