Re: Infinit loop in /free

[Hans Boldt <boldt@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Steve Richter wrote:
> > First, disregarding such pedantries that there's really no such thing as
> > a never ending loop,
>
>
> 2nd time you have said that.  how do you know that the system a program is
> running on will ever stop functioning?   Maybe IBM service will always be on
> site on time to hot swap any failing part, maybe the UPS and backup
> generator will always be available to maintain power in the advent of
> utility power loss, maybe the program runs on a redundant internet cluster
> and continues to run if a node goes off line. Maybe IBM becomes innovative
> again and enhances os400 to save a programs state in the event of system
> failure so that when the system restarts, the looping program resumes its
> processing where it was at the time of failure.  Maybe when the sun burns
> out the job state will be transfered to another planet on another solar
> system.  Maybe God just happens to be the system operator ...
>
> you cant say for certainty that the loop will eventually stop!

If you had a program that never ends, you could establish that fact by 
waiting until the program terminates. Then, and only then, do you know 
that you have a never ending program.  ;-)

While waiting for the program to end, you could spend your time doing 
some research on the "halting problem".  ;-)

Cheers! Hans