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