From: zuzu <sean.zuzu@...>
Date: 2004-08-22T17:26:58+09:00
Subject: Re: ruby, actors, continuations, Kernel#callcc

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 15:56:57 +0900, Robert Feldt <feldt@ce.chalmers.se> wrote:
> 
> >BTW: Since you mentioned FPGAs (and yes, I think FPGAs represent the
> >future of high performance computing since they allow you to map
> >compuationally intensive algorithms into hardware for maximum performance
> >[though, we still need better tools for mapping the algorithms]), you
> >might be interested in the $99 Spartan III starter kit from Xilinx
> >(http://www.xilinx.com) - it includes a board with a 200K gate FPGA and
> >software for programming it.  I just got mine today and am looking
> >forward to playing with it (tinker toys for adults ;-) - it's amazing
> >that you can get something like that now for $99, I recall working
> >on an ASIC back in '89 that only had 2K gates and it wasn't
> >reprogrammable.  Back then a 200K ASIC would have been a very high-end
> >design done by a large company with tens of thousands (if not hundreds of
> >thousands) of dollars worth of workstations and design tools and FPGAs
> >were only just becoming available with maybe 1K gates.
> >
> >
> >
> Tell me you're planning a Ruby2FPGA compiler! Talk about edge vs other
> langs... :)
> 
> /Robert

not likely as an advantage over other languages...  such low level
design would probably end up looking alot more like the parrot VM than
a single-language interpreter, or at least the development process
would allow other languages to follow suit in parallel.

however, lisp and smalltalk machines were developed.
programming language as the OS is not unheard of.

the more things change, the more they stay the same.

-z