Hmmmm, maybe the grass really is greener on the other side of the pond.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Undrill [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 3:32 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [HP3000-L] OT: Is software really deterministic?


"Roy Brown" <[log in to unmask]> wrote in message
news:Cq2dnaF0R4yUnhyjXTWcpg@fidnet.com...
> In message <[log in to unmask]>, Wirt Atmar <[log in to unmask]>
> writes
> >Frank writes:
> >
> >>  "It's also important to remember that software is never intermittently
> >>  flaky;"
> >>
> >>  ... except Windows.
> >
> >No, beyond the joke value of the statement, software is always
deterministic
> >in its behavior. What is true that as the software becomes increasingly
more
> >complex and the state variable table that the software operates within
> >becomes so large that you can no longer guarantee (in a mathematical
sense)
> >its behavior, then it too begins to somewhat take on the attributes of a
> >noisy thermodynamic system, but at its core, it still remains
deterministic.
>
> I'm not at all sure that I believe this any longer. I believe that
> software has left the realm of the deterministic, and is exhibiting
> quantum effects.

etc. etc.
>
<SNIP>
>
Yes Roy.....;-)

--
Mark Undrill
Affirm Limited

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