Re: Linux-asm (was A patch for linux 2.1.127)

Manuel J. Galan (manolow@step.es)
Wed, 18 Nov 1998 14:24:47 +0000


"Richard B. Johnson" wrote:
>
> On Tue, 17 Nov 1998, Manuel J. Galan wrote:
>
> > Some common places and/or common sense:
> >
> > * UNIX was built on C and C was built for UNIX.
> >
>
> Unix was built on a Digital PDP-11/34, using tools available
> in the RSX-11 Digital Operation system. Most of the 'hardware stuff'
> was done in DEC MACRO Assembly under RSX-11.
>
> 'C' came later.

So what comes first the chicken or the egg? :)

>
> > * UNIX/C were devised with portability in mind.
> >
>
> Unix and C are not the same thing. Once Unix was running, a
> 'C' compiler was built (from the ideas of 'B') so that the
> machine would not have to be rebooted to get at the DEC tools
> to continue development.

But they were devised with _portability_ in mind.

>
> > * To speed up your programs, improve your algorithms.
> > ( i.e. see last posting by Benoit Poulot-Cazajous)
> >
>
> 'C' is a tool. That's all. There are other tools available
> which, combined, are known as a 'programming environment'.
>

Yes but C is portable and ASM is not!

>
> > * Linus himself seems to be quite a good assembler
> > programmer but he made Linux kernel in C, (hint, hint...)
> >
>
> Using Linus' name is a usual trick. He did not make the kernel
> in 'C'. It was made using various tools including assembler and
> GNU extensions that are implemented within the GNU Compiler.
> Check the ../linux/arch/.. directories and the ../linux/include/asm
> directories before you leap to such a conclusion.
>
> Further, much of the new 'C' libraries are written in assembly.
> Basically, the hard stuff is written in assembly so you can make
> portable code that runs reasonably well.

I am not a C fundamentalist and for sure that some asm is needed
in specific parts... But kernel is built on 'C' (99.99%) and I like
it as it is. I am a human being and I do NOT want to be assimilated
to the BORG! :)

>
> Cheers,
> Dick Johnson
> ***** FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED *****
> Penguin : Linux version 2.1.127 on an i686 machine (400.59 BogoMips).
> Warning : It's hard to remain at the trailing edge of technology.

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