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From: doug@edge.UUCP (Doug Pardee)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: Assembly Language
Message-ID: <917@edge.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 20-Aug-87 12:57:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: edge.917
Posted: Thu Aug 20 12:57:23 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Aug-87 18:27:21 EDT
References: <892@edge.UUCP> <3240001@nucsrl.UUCP>
Organization: Edge Computer Corporation, Scottsdale, AZ
Lines: 36

>>[Comment that Microsoft Basic and Lotus 1-2-3 wouldn't have been successful
>> if they weren't written in assembler.]
>
>All of these could have been easily implemented in an HLL, if it wasn't for
>the fact that they had to have suitable performance on a machine/OS
>combination that forced ad hoc limitations on the software.

The scene:  France, toward the end of the 18th century.  In the Palace, we
            find Marie Antoinette seated in front of an antique Louis XIV
            writing desk.  She is dressed in the excessive style we expect,
            with ruffles and lace everywhere.  Except she isn't wearing high
            heels, she's wearing sandals.

            As we zoom in on the writing desk, we see a Unix terminal.  Marie
            is playing Rogue.

[A guard rushes in]  "Your highness!!"

      [Marie removes her Walkman headphones, but doesn't look up from the
      terminal.  She seems distracted and annoyed.]  "Yes, what is it now?"

"Your Highness!  The peasants are revolting!"

      "They certainly are.  Where do they get their clothes, the Salvation
      Army?  And why do you interrupt me with such nonsense?"

"No Your Highness!  The peasants are rioting!  They say that your C program
won't run on their PC's!  They are marching in a ring all around the Palace,
shouting and making oinking noises!"

      [Marie still does not turn away from her terminal.]  "Aaarrgh!  Peasants
      are so STUPID!  Look, I don't have the time to deal with them now.  Just
      go out and explain to those idiot peasants that all they have to do is
      to port the program to their VAXen."  [She puts the headphones back on.]
-- 
Doug Pardee, Edge Computer Corp; ihnp4!mot!edge!doug, seismo!ism780c!edge!doug