Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!cbema!las
From: cbema!las@cbnews.ATT.COM (cbema!las)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: High- vs. low-level languages (Was: Re: Why unix doesn't catch on)
Message-ID: <6928@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 26 May 89 18:18:22 GMT
References: <664@tukki.jyu.fi> <8090024@hpsemc.HP.COM>
Reply-To: cbema!las@cbnews.ATT.COM (Larry A. Shurr)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus, OH (actually an AGS consultant)
Lines: 36

In article <8090024@hpsemc.HP.COM> gph@hpsemc.HP.COM (Paul Houtz) writes:
[Regarding the proposition that assembly language is always preferable to
high-level language for reasons of efficiency]

}   Sort of like using a spoon to cultivate a cornfield.

}   99% of all computer code is not performance bottlenecked.   If you decide
}   to use assembler for all your coding becuase it is faster, it's like buying
}   a Farrari 308 GTS so that you can get your speed up to 120 MPH between 
}   stoplights on the El Camino Real.  You just aren't going to get where you
}   are going ANY faster.

}   Use a high level language and write good, straightforward code, and don't
}   worry so much about performance.    

}   Then, analyze the code at run-time, and figure out where the bottle necks
}   are.   You can then really leverage a small amount of time re-coding those
}   bottle necks in assembler, if necessary.  

Listen you!  Let's not have anymore of these reasoned, sensible proposals.
This is a religious issue to be persued with utmost ferocity.  If there's
not as much bloodletting in this group as there is in Beruit, we are not
living our faith.

And don't let me catch you employing any more disarming humor!  Next thing
you know, someone may adopt a conciliatory tone and then where will we be?

If you can't say something cruel, offensive, self-serving, or at least,
mean-spirited, then don't say it!

regards, Larry
-- 
Signed: Larry A. Shurr (cbema!las@att.ATT.COM or att!cbema!las)
Clever signature, Wonderful wit, Outdo the others, Be a big hit! - Burma Shave
(With apologies to the real thing.  The above represents my views only.)
(Please note my mailing address.  Mail sent directly to cbnews doesn't make it.)