Back to the main page

Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

Message no. 1
From: The Deb Decker <RJR96326@****.UTULSA.EDU>
Subject: Strip and languages
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1993 15:55:58 -0500
I think we're delving a bit too much into reality in the attack and defense
of strips. What we're looking for is an optional way to give deckers detailed
choices about how they run their programs. If someone will examine all the
comments and write up a detailed post and explanation, maybe we could start
anew from a more solid mechanical/theoretical point.

My View: Commercial Programs are already compiled for something just short
of the maximum speed. Whether the decker decodes them or if they are availble
for different makes and models, the listed sizes and ratings should be the
standard. That way we don't have any sudden paradigm shifts in decking (short
of the Carter-Huth post).

Languages: A variety with different strengths and weaknesses. They could
specialize in areas of decking (combat, sensor) or application (math, text,
graphic imaging).

Strip: Used in conjunction with languages to make the final product smaller.
If you allow them to be used on commercial proframs, it should be more
difficult and/or you should get a smaller return, since (as I said above)
they are already well-optimized.

J Roberson
Message no. 2
From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Strip and languages
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1993 16:04:27 -0500
On Wed, 21 Jul 1993, The Deb Decker wrote:

> I think we're delving a bit too much into reality in the attack and defense
> of strips. What we're looking for is an optional way to give deckers detailed
> choices about how they run their programs. If someone will examine all the
> comments and write up a detailed post and explanation, maybe we could start
> anew from a more solid mechanical/theoretical point.

Good god! See the post I just made. I think we agreed on something.
This is terrifying!

> My View: Commercial Programs are already compiled for something just short
> of the maximum speed. Whether the decker decodes them or if they are availble
> for different makes and models, the listed sizes and ratings should be the
> standard. That way we don't have any sudden paradigm shifts in decking (short
> of the Carter-Huth post).

My View: Commercial programs are designed to be most portable. SCREAMING
POODLE (an attack:12) will run just the same on a Fuchi Cyber 4 as it does
on a Fairlight. The reasoning is that the code for both Fuchi and
Fairlight is in the program. If you have a Fuchi deck, that Fairlight
code just eats space. STRIPping removes the redundant code.

If course, because commerical codes are bought in executable form, you
have to decompile them to STRIP them. I think there are rules somewhere
in VR to deompile a program.

> Languages: A variety with different strengths and weaknesses. They could
> specialize in areas of decking (combat, sensor) or application (math, text,
> graphic imaging).

See what I jsut posted.

> Strip: Used in conjunction with languages to make the final product smaller.
> If you allow them to be used on commercial proframs, it should be more
> difficult and/or you should get a smaller return, since (as I said above)
> they are already well-optimized.

Are they? I still think that a commercial program would have A LOT of
redundant code in order to allow one mass-produced program to run on as
many platforms as possible. STRIPping a commercial program is possible,
but you have to decompile it first, which can FUBAR the program.

{[> Robert A. Hayden ____ hayden@*******.mankato.msus.edu <]}
{[> \ /__ hayden@****.cs.mankato.msus.edu <]}
{[> \/ / aq650@****.INS.CWRU.Edu <]}
{[> #include <std_disclaimer.h> \/ <]}
-=-=-
GEEK CODE v1.0.1: GSS d- -p+(---) c++(++++) l++ u++ e+/* m++(*)@ s-/++
n-(---) h+(*) f+ g+ w++ t++ r++ y+(*)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Random Thought:

It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Strip and languages, you may also be interested in:

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.

Thwap!