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Groups > comp.lang.python > #22641

RE: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT

From Phil Runciman <philr@aspexconsulting.co.nz>
Date 2012-04-04 09:50 +1200
Subject RE: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT
References (13 earlier) <jlf1b9$hhh$1@dough.gmane.org> <mailman.1275.1333463503.3037.python-list@python.org> <jlf2fo$6mm$1@reader1.panix.com> <CAPTjJmokK8SsTP4nLv7Wiu7PUcmPUWnj5LUzsmmHxJ7+kxgnuA@mail.gmail.com> <jlf482$ci1$1@dough.gmane.org>
Newsgroups comp.lang.python
Message-ID <mailman.1302.1333489838.3037.python-list@python.org> (permalink)

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Lawrence [mailto:breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk]
> Sent: Wednesday, 4 April 2012 3:16 a.m.
> To: python-list@python.org
> Subject: Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] -
> somewhat OT
> 
> On 03/04/2012 15:56, Chris Angelico wrote:
> > On Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 12:46 AM, Grant
> Edwards<invalid@invalid.invalid>  wrote:
> >> Anybody remember DEC's VAX/VMS "patch" utility?  Apparently, DEC
> >> thought it was a practical way to fix things.  It had a built-in
> >> assembler and let you "insert" new code into a function by
> >> auto-allocating a location for the new code an hooking it into the
> >> indicated spot with jump instructions.
> >>
> >> The mind wobbled.
> >
> > Not specifically, but I _have_ heard of various systems whose source
> > code and binary were multiple years divergent. It's actually not a
> > difficult trap to fall into, especially once you start patching
> > running systems. I've had quite a few computers that have been unable
> > to reboot without assistance, because they go for months or years
> > without ever having to go through that initial program load. (I've
> had
> > _programs_ that were unable to load, for the same reason.) But
> > auto-allocating a new spot for your expanded function? That's just...
> > awesome. My mind is, indeed, wobbling.
> >
> > ChrisA
> 
> Around 1990 I worked on Telematics kit.  The patches on all their
> software were implemented via assembler once the original binary had
> been loaded into memory.  They even came up with a system that let you
> select which patches you wanted and which you didn't, as e.g. some
> patches were customer specific.
> 
> --
> Cheers.
> 
> Mark Lawrence.
> 

In the 70's I worked with Honeywell 16 Series computers controlling a variety of systems. The patches were loaded as a starting address followed by machine code, using a piece of software for this purpose. This all sounds rather similar to Mark's situation. The reason however is less obvious. On the H16 series we did not have a multi-access O/S and the process of assembling and linking a large system involved many steps. Often the modifications required were trivial. It was generally easier to reload a memory dump from off paper tape and then apply the patches.


Phil Runciman

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Thread

Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Nathan Rice <nathan.alexander.rice@gmail.com> - 2012-03-29 13:48 -0400
  Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-03-30 01:56 +0000
    Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Nathan Rice <nathan.alexander.rice@gmail.com> - 2012-03-30 01:37 -0400
      Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2012-04-01 20:18 -0700
        Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Nathan Rice <nathan.alexander.rice@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 00:55 -0400
          Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT alex23 <wuwei23@gmail.com> - 2012-04-02 22:40 -0700
            Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Nathan Rice <nathan.alexander.rice@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 08:39 -0400
              Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 06:51 -0700
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-04-03 15:26 +0100
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-04-04 00:31 +1000
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Grant Edwards <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2012-04-03 14:46 +0000
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-04-04 00:56 +1000
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-04-03 16:16 +0100
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Dave Angel <d@davea.name> - 2012-04-03 12:28 -0400
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Neil Cerutti <neilc@norwich.edu> - 2012-04-03 17:21 +0000
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2012-04-03 12:38 -0400
                RE: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Phil Runciman <philr@aspexconsulting.co.nz> - 2012-04-04 09:50 +1200
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Nathan Rice <nathan.alexander.rice@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 12:15 -0400
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 10:13 -0700
              Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-04-04 06:19 +0000
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Steve Howell <showell30@yahoo.com> - 2012-04-04 00:07 -0700
            Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Ian Kelly <ian.g.kelly@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 09:01 -0600
            Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Chris Angelico <rosuav@gmail.com> - 2012-04-04 01:05 +1000
            Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Dennis Lee Bieber <wlfraed@ix.netcom.com> - 2012-04-03 12:35 -0400
            Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Nathan Rice <nathan.alexander.rice@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 13:17 -0400
              Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 10:25 -0700
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Nathan Rice <nathan.alexander.rice@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 14:42 -0400
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT rusi <rustompmody@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 22:56 -0700
                Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Mark Lawrence <breamoreboy@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-04-03 23:50 +0100
              Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Steven D'Aprano <steve+comp.lang.python@pearwood.info> - 2012-04-04 05:49 +0000
            Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Terry Reedy <tjreedy@udel.edu> - 2012-04-03 16:20 -0400
            Re: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Nathan Rice <nathan.alexander.rice@gmail.com> - 2012-04-03 16:50 -0400
            RE: Number of languages known [was Re: Python is readable] - somewhat OT Phil Runciman <philr@aspexconsulting.co.nz> - 2012-04-04 10:25 +1200

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