Re: Low-level vs. High-level programming (was My First Computer)

[wildstar <wildstar128@hotmail.com>]

"Randy McLaughlin" <randy@nospam.com> wrote in
news:bjGLa.12$h9.8@fe02.atl2.webusenet.com: 


> My point has been to "troll", I am looking to see who sees the truth.
> People can either repeat what others have told them or they can use
> their god given brains to think.
> 
> The coloquial use of "Turing-complete" made perfect sense in the 40's.
> Every program was concieved as a fancy calculator.  "Turing-complete"
> has been used to define how a computer must function so poorly that no
> one is willing to even look for the truth.
> 
> Shortly before Henry Ford made automobiles (notice I am not saying
> cars) affordable (available) to everyone.  As a selling point the
> salesmen pointed out that the automobiles can replace wagons, they
> could be used for everything from taking the family to church to
> carrying a hog to market. 
> 
> How many people believe their cars would be a good way to carry hogs
> to market?  That is why we have specialized automobiles today.  When
> Turing postulated his engine he had no conception of what we would use
> computers for today.  The fact that there is no "Turing-complete" law
> is the genius of flexability.  In the 40's the only reason for
> computers was to calculate (even if the calculations were to help
> break cyphers).  Computer progrogramming languages are tools used to
> program computers.  Yesterdays languages were designed to calculate,
> to limit todays tools limits how well and how efficiently a computer
> can be used today.  As far as I can see using computer for what they
> were originally used for will continue forever, does that mean that we
> should stop using computers for anything else? 
> 
> There is no definition that states that a computer programming
> language has to meet any test other than be able to create computer
> programs. 
> 
> 


Ultimately, I think the test will only be to determine if a digital file 
is a just a data file or a computer program. Anyway, this can be rather 
determined but can be very tricky. Even some data files may inadvertantly 
be a full functioning computer program. Just a case of chance.