Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!ht!spt!mcp!mdc
From: mdc@mcp.entity.com (Marty Connor)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Knowing Machine Code
Summary: well, perhaps a little balance
Message-ID: <173@mcp.entity.com>
Date: 10 Jun 88 12:33:38 GMT
References: <11093@apple.Apple.Com> <17030002@hpsmtc1.HP.COM>
Lines: 48

In article <17030002@hpsmtc1.HP.COM>, dlw@hpsmtc1.HP.COM (David Williams) writes:
> Gee, I'm glad I know the architecture of phones, toasters, typewriters and
> power drills so that I can use them properly and EFFECTIVELY ;)

Kinda unfair.  The average quiche-eating person probably doesn't care
about the inside of hir toaster.  Of course, one may not make hir
"bread and butter" using a toaster (sorry, couldn't resist).

How about this.  I would make the argument that one could be a BETTER
race car driver if one had some idea of what went on inside one's car.

Now the word BETTER is open to some interpretation.  I mean, that
there I am, stuck in the middle of the outback with a busted radiator
hose, and with the tools in my trunk, and yet I can't fix it, because,
"I'M NOT A MECHANIC, DAMN IT!!!".  I hope you see the point.  Sure, as
long as you never want to look under the hood, you can just say, "I
put the pedal to the metal and it doesn't go fast enough, where's Joe
the Mechanic?  What do we pay this guy's dental plan for anyway??? Is
he on BREAK AGAIN???  I'll call you back, must be entering a new Cell...".

> Actually compiler writers and OS hackers should know these things in order to
> implement faster, cleaner products. 

"Engines are SOOO dirty...".

Well, I would argue that there are GOOD reasons for more than just
Systems Hackers to learn assembler.  

Now, in all fairness I should say that I am busy learning 68000
assembler currently.  Mostly so that I can understand the machine
better and have a chance to fix things like COMPILER BUGS and get some
insight into my own bugs. (and hang out with my friends without the
severe embarassment of not knowing what 'LINK A6,#0' and 'StAck
DiSciPliNe' (note StUdLy CapItaLIzAtIon[tm]) are.  

I don't say everyone should learn assembler, (just everyone that I
want to know...)  [that was a J-O-K-E, alright, a JOKE!]

I understand your point, and I hope you see mine.  

> David Williams
> Hewlett Packard

Regards,
-- 
----------------
Marty Connor
Director of Innovation, The Entity
mdc@mcp.entity.com, ...{harvard|uunet}!mit-eddie!spt!mcp!mdc