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From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: net.micro.68k
Subject: Re: FLAME!!! Re: EA orthogonality
Message-ID: <5609@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 19-May-85 01:23:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: utzoo.5609
Posted: Sun May 19 01:23:20 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 19-May-85 01:23:20 EDT
References: <419@oakhill.UUCP> <6415@boring.UUCP>, <557@terak.UUCP>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 27

> What in heck do you think we users are paying you compiler writers to
> DO?

How much do you want to pay us?  A lot, or not so much?  You could not
possibly pay me enough money to get me to implement a compiler for some
of the scummier machines around, unless your wallet is a lot bigger than
one would expect.

> The purpose of a CPU is to solve the *user's* application as quickly as
> possible.
> 
> The purpose of a CPU is *NOT* to be as easy to write a compiler for as
> possible.

Have you considered that the two may be related?  Difficult compilation
generally means poorer compilers, i.e. poorer performance for the user.

> Why on earth should the design of a CPU be based on how easy it will
> make the jobs of the five people who will write the compilers for it?

Because it will result in faster and more reliable compilers that produce
better code and better error messages.  If you have tried to hire good
compiler people lately, you know that compiler-writer time is neither
cheap nor in infinite supply.
-- 
				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
				{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry