Older blog entries for nymia (starting at number 399)

Syntax Directed Translation

Spent a lot free time reading the Dragon Book about Synthesized and Inherited attritubes. I'm pretty much close into coming up with an implementable mechanism. Soon enough, it will get implemented.

What I'm not sure though is whether it would fit the input- process-output model. That would mean creating a grammar for them, including the output of the Type Checker. It would probably better if they (parse tree + type checker) are combined though.

Crystal Space Project

Spent some time gathering information about CS. Was impressed with how the csdemo [1 2 ] program was made. I might pick up some of the author's style of implementing interesting designs.

What is even more interesting is it is possible to create a world from output of my programs, which is simply cool. I could visually see them in 3D.

Assembler, IA32 Base Types

Still collecting information, nothing major so far. It seems that I can only use integer and float as my base types.

IA32 Instruction Table

Been looking for a way of converting some of it into table format. Not sure if this will work, but, I might try it anyway.

3D Games For Kids

Something is rattling in my head again, have to write it down. After seeing csdemo, it just dawned I could morph the program into something like a 3D spelling program for kids of age 3 to 6. With features like 6DOF, I could place a lot words in space and let a kid shoot which one is right.

Text Files Galore

Been playing with idea of how will I write out the contents of a parse tree to a text file. Might use simple statements to denote definitions and relationships.

Since it will be written out to a text file, an intermediate language grammar will have to be written for reading and writing out files in text format . The output file will be similar to an assembler syntax, except most of the definitions or references to internal and external symbols are names instead of numbers.

Will try to see if the input-process-output model is enough to make development and maintenance sane enough for one developer. The figure below shows how it will be partitioned.

       c source --> C grammar  -->  parse tree  

       parse tree  -->  IL 1 grammar --> asm like syntax 

      asm like syntax  --> IL 2 grammar -->  IA32 asm

      IA32 asm   --> assembler  --> binary format

Thinking About Redondo Beach

Been setting up a plan on how will I get myself (family included) relocated to Redondo Beach. I just love that place. I feel so at home, with the beach and sun, just perfect. I really don't know, but, I know I have to. It's probably one of those things one has to have in life, I guess.

ANSI C Xref Toy

Now back to reality.

Been playing with the grammar as to how will get myself a tool that would basically copy the functionality of Doxygen. Though this toy will have a different twist instead.

Recruiters

Been talking to a lot recruiters lately on how will I get a job in that area. So far, nothing yet.

People Behind The Monsters

Been reading one [1] of the people behind the movie Monster s. Will use the information gathered in one of the articles I'm writing.

Do Car Lovers Think Alike?

While halfway, got to chat with another driver who basically love dressing cars. We talked about many things and still more things about cars.

Sunday

Spent some time getting information about Tomorrow's Jobs. The article seems to be written well, supported with numbers and figures.

Employment Situation Summary

Also spent some time getting information about the current Employment Situation Summary. Figured I will need these information in looking for next job since I consider myself a fulltime job seeker for the time being. Of the data gathered, it looks like part-time positions rose in October '01.

Celestia

Been getting some information about this interesting project called Celestia. So far, things are doing fine here.

Labelled Statements

It's only now I realize a jump to a label is basically handled by the compiler. There's no instruction that accepts a jump to a named location. While I do know a jump instruction uses the immediate data as displacement, the direction could either be forward or backward depending on the value of the Instruction Pointer and the Immediate Data.

The realization reminded me of the time when we would compute how far a jump would be. We would perform a 2's complement to effect a backward jump, otherwise, it just defaults to a forward jump.

IA32 Types

Found two types for the IA32 instruction set: Integer and Float. Will start classifying the instructions according to type and move forward working on how it gets implemented in the grammar. One thing I need to figure out is MMX as to what type it would fit into.

The Explosion of Software, Practice Writing

Been Googling, looking for information related to the explosion of software. One thing seems to stand out is the idea of free access to software has truly come of age where any person with the right desire to use it will eventually end up using it. It's here now, today, right now. Amazing.

One of the most interesting finding was an exotic language hiding in some dark alleys of the World Wide Web. A good example of that is here [1]. Plus some compiler and interpreter projects whose pages written in non-english characters. I bet these projects have implemented methods of localizing the language for their local developers. I would imagine that kind of phenomenon only creates diversity in many ways.

While the Web continues to expand, more and more tools such as compilers and interpreters will continue to show up. Filling the net with the plethora of tools for diffferent types of users.

It can only get better.

The Truth That Is On The Web

Spent some time surfing the Net reading pages and pages of information about historical events written by a famous writer. These pages reveal so much information I never knew existed. The fact I was not aware most historians failed to write in-depth analysis of those events.

These hidden truths will come out and surface in one way or another. Only time will tell when will these pages become popular among the populace. In the meantime, these truths will continue to attract other hidden truths. Waiting.

Decorations

Noticed several of our neighbors here have completed decorating their homes. Just got a good look and saw how the houses were decorated here. Might as well start decorating with a different kind of twist. Overall, our neighbors decoration were just wonderful, lots of lights in front of the house. It basically reminded me of how we celebrated it at home where it was done at the community level. Here, it feels so much different. The best of both worlds, I guess. Back home, it's a very religous occasion where most of the people flock to the church to hear mass known as 'Misa de Gallo' (mee-SUH de GUL-yo) or 'Simbang Gabi' (SEEm-BAng GUh-bee).

pasm

Managed to get the Jcc instructions in place. Currently looking at the instruction set trying to gather some information about basic types the instructions support. Might use that information and implement it on the C grammar, specifically, in the type checker module.

More Ramblings, Practice Writing

Been making a lot of conjectures lately as to why the first contact resulted to the prolifiration of practices and beliefs revolving around the following ideas: existence, soul and god. Looking at history, I could only see and wonder in amazement how humans have been captivated with the idea these religious and philosophical truths exist. The effect which caused tribes, communities, towns and countries to emerge. Trust became the important link between humans who are binded in a relationship, effectively cementing the network of individuals, resulting in the creation of power structures.

Also conjectured about the idea of the connection between the second contact and paradise-on-Earth scenario. Why would such a scenario exist? What was contained in the promise is probably a big technological step where scarcity will be eliminated?

Looking at it from an armchair point-of-view, my thoughts can only produce some interesting connections. It could be the case where the second contact is a technological revelation where gravity is finally conquered and the reality of unlimited supply of energy implemented at the household level. I think these two technologies are the remaining items needed to complete the circle. Where and when will these technologies become a reality? I don't know, they can come from ETs or from our scientists.

At any rate, once they become reality, all existing economies and power structures will either collapse or shift for the simple reason of the elimination of scarcity. The basis of determining what is scarce will become irrelevant as monetary or exchange values of these scarce resources will simply become ridiculous. Though they may be some things will remain scarce, demand for them would probably be low enough to make it affordable.

The resulting equation would be wonderful. Who needs an energy utility company where energy can be generated by a device in the backyard? Who will need money when individual needs are satiated?

My bad! what a boring world would that be.

ANSI C Interpreter

Spent some time adding printf probes into the grammar, figuring out how the rules flow from one to another. Managed to observe how function declarations and pointer/direct declarator flow. So far, everything seems to be working fine, feeling lucky I guess (keno?).

Also there's this itch urging to play with it a little longer as the idea of merging the C grammar against the Ruby API. It might turn out to be something like an objected oriented language using C grammar. Sounds like a lot of fun.

PostgreSQL

Finally decided to scratch the idea of refactoring the code for a simple reason of doing manual, a.k.a. grunt work. I can't do that! No way dude, it's too labor intensive. What I'll do is make a program that will read the symbols and produce a report that will organize them in a orderly way. I'll just use the C interpreter to spew out the report.

Grunt Work In Coding

The idea led me to believe the reality that certain levels in the practice of Computer Programming involve large amounts of grunt work. And I also believe projects have a wide bar allocated for that as well. Which leads to another idea that most developers are actually doing grunt work rather than creating programs that create programs.

IMO, programming can be a trivial task, provided there exists a methodology of abstracting certain levels of complexity to a set of grammar and syntax rules.

Imagine the maintenance it would take when our civilization reaches the third millenium. I bet most of them (third world countries) will probably be working as programmers maintaining 20th century code. That's not a very good picture, IMO.

Grunt work is basically a waste of resources. It doesn't contribute to productivity and it punishes the programmer in a dull and repetitive way. If were only a manager, I would ask my team to stop doing grunt work and work instead on programs that create programs. But, I'm not a manager and I don't have a team, tough for me.

Checkup

Just had my checkup done today. One thing I don't understand is why does it have a test requiring me coughing twice. The doctor said I shouldn't think about coughing three times. Two is enough! Grrr.

Fulltime Job Seeker

Got an idea from a friend that I shouldn't stop looking for jobs even when employed. That's just how was the situation and I shouldn't rely on the company's financial situation. So, that got me calling a lot of recruiters asking them for anything that might match mine.

Second Contact Highly Unlikely

Ramble. While there is a good chance the first contact happened way, waaaaaaay back. A second contact (coming) might be highly unlikely. I doubt the possibility for several reasons:

• Arrogance.
• Superiority Complex.
• Nuclear weapons / Weapons of mass destruction.
• Reliance on low-tech gadgets.
• Lack of inter-specie communication skill.
• Narrow minded view of existence.
• Patriotism.
• Filibusterism.
• Warlordism.
• Religious belief that we're the only one.
• Braindead economic systems.

What I find interesting is the idea of a god or a very intelligent and powerful being coming back to Earth to meet mankind. Somehow, there is this simple message that was passed from generation to generation, civilization to civilization, religion to religion; going as far as the present. Though the message may have been garbled, the main thesis was preserved, that there is going to be a second contact.

ANSI C Grammar

Spent some time playing with the C grammar. Also attempted to design the parse tree for it. Will continue playing with it until a suitable parse tree design comes up. What I basically have at the moment is an ANSI C interpreter that accepts a valid input from the console.

PostgreSQL

Also spent some time with Postgres code trying to reorganize the symbols by moving them around from one file to another. It's definitely a dirty job attempting to even refactor C code. Now I know why ADTs should be implemented early in the lifecycle of a project.

Bomb Song

Just got this link from a news on TV.

First Contact Happened A long Time Ago

Been gathering information about ancient civilizations and one thing seems to come out was the idea of first contact during the pre-historic times. Probably occured before recorded history where advanced civilizations met face-to-face with early unknown civilizations. It may sound ridiculous, but my initial search yielded information not aligned with the current idea. Somehow, methods relating to astrology and construction of buildings such as pyramids mean something that some ancient civilizations aren't dumb at all. [ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8]

Parser SUBSYS.o

Been spending some time figuring out the external references, trying to find a way of resolving them. So far, most of these references are scattered all over. Suddenly, I wish there was a way of organizing these exported symbols in a neat and orderly manner.

XPCOM

Finally got the sample component working. One thing I noticed was the stock download tarball doesn't have a working XPCOM sample program. There are 2 steps needed to make it work though.

Dia de los Muertos

Spent a little time collecting information about how it was celebrated.

Googling

Compilers, DevLibrary, Assembly, C/C++, The Roles of Lex And YACC, The Lex And YACC Page, The Lex And YACC HowTo, YACC, Parsing, Free Grammars

C Grammar

Just got the basic C grammar working. More to come as I will have to add the actions that create the parse tree. So far, things are getting exciting. Actually, I stole it from here. One thing I like about C is its simplicity, efficiency and performance with the tradeoff of type safety, of course. I just can't wait to have my own homegrown C compiler.

PostgreSQL Parser Component (XPCOM)

Finally got SUBSYS.o linked with the rest of the objects by adding a new variable called EXTOBJS in the Makefile. Also modified rules.mk and added the EXTOBJS variable.

Unfortunately, the component won't initialize (CreateInstance) right after making the changes. I might start working on the link issue today and see what happens next.

Currently looking at the symbols using objdump command.