It is an interesting article, and reminds me of some discussions I've
had with 'younger'
programmers at work. One of my coworkers is an absolutely awesome
web developer, using
the newer frameworks (Groovy on Grails) to develop from scratch a
replacement GUI for out
linux security tools (commercial plug - www.trustedcs.com/
securityblanket) in 8 months, having
no previous experience with the product. Seeing what he has been
able to do using the right
tools has been amazing. He enjoys the whole meta-programming way of
doing things. But when
I've discussed some of the things I've done (some cell code, device
driver work, cross-platform porting,
C/C++/Fortran, bit level manipulation, etc) he honestly confesses
that he is baffled and lost trying to
do those things. They just aren't taught much it seems.
I've also been amused that several of the programming tricks
*required* in cell based work were things
I did 'back in the day' trying to get every cycle I could beg,
borrow, or steal out of my old Apple II+. When
a no-op costs two clock cycles, you learn to count every one of
them. Anyone else remember the extra
16 K of memory (or there abouts) you could get by bank-switching the
language card? Or programming
overlays? Manually figuring out how to bit pack you data so you
would actually be able to fit everthing
into your limited memory space? Again, skills that (outside of the
embedded world perhaps) just aren't
taught much anymore. <sigh> I'm not saying that everyone needs to
be able to demonstrate mastery
of these skills, but I am a *firm* believer that the concepts should
be taught and coded at least once,
if only so the developing code can understand what the wiz-bang
compiler is doing on their behalf.
Ok, I will now step down from one of my many soapboxes.....
-Rob
On Dec 27, 2009, at 11:23 AM, Derick Centeno wrote:
I thought you, Rob and interested others would find this article
interesting as it follows along the lines of what you stated earlier
with some different details.
First the article:
http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2009/11/end-of-the-line-for-
ibms-cell.ars
You'll note that future development and computers (including laptops -
Yippee!) will follow along an integrated or morphed design path which
implements both AMD/Intel with Cell/PowerPC aspects of handling
complex
processing. This could well mean systems which look more like the
system which is within the Toshiba Qosimo (referring to what Toshiba
calls it's SPEC engine).
I recall discussing details regarding how the Cell's technology was
morphed into the SPEC engine with some astute people at the YDL Board
awhile ago. IBM's decision therefore kills the Cell as Cell, but not
what was derived by learning and working with it.
It is interesting that this movement forward comprises methods
previously exclusive to disparate architecture families (Intel v.
PowerPC); everything running today will need to be rewritten for those
newer systems as they will be unlike what has come before. This also
means something rather challenging which I hinted at previously, the
skills needed to program the new systems will require people familiar
programming for PowerPC/Cell and Intel systems. A skill which remains
rare and becoming rarer still. However those skills are transferable
and advantageous in leaping forward into seriously working with
this new
hybrid. The new hybrid will be further advanced than the system
within the Qosimo.
As the hardware moving forward has changed so must Linux and
commercial
operating systems. YDL won't remain what it is; it will have to morph
into something else to meet what is coming. That choice, if any is
made, is up to Fixstars. I hope that they choose well so that they
are
right in the thick of it.
The best to all...
On Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:46:22 -0800
Warren Nagourney <war...@phys.washington.edu> wrote:
That's very interesting, Rob. Were the apps compiled using the same
compilers (with the same degree of optimization) in both cases? Were
the time differences actual CPU time of just elapsed time? ...
=========
Refranes/Popular sayings:
The Taino say:No hay mal que por bien no venga.
There is no evil out of which good cannot blossom.
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