RE: Assembly programmers do it a byte at a time

Studying "C" helped me with that but I do agree with you. Understanding what is 
going on underneath makes a better programmer. Looking at the MI code in RPG 
III at how a occur's statement was implemented let me understand how getting a 
pointer to a user space and pointing it to a multiple occurrence data structure 
worked. Just an example. You almost have to understand something of how the 
machine works to use a pointer. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Fritz [mailto:JFritz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 2:04 PM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: RE: Assembly programmers do it a byte at a time



I wouldn't care to make my living programming in any kind of assembler,
but the class I took in 8086 assembler was one of the most useful
courses I took.  Taught me more about how a computer works than anything
else, gave me an idea what the high level languages were doing, and what
came out the other end of the compiler.  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Joe Pluta
> Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 7:34 AM
> To: 'RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries'
> Subject: Assembly programmers do it a byte at a time
>
> > From: rob@xxxxxxxxx
> >
> > As you personally attest, now that you have imbedded SQL you use it
> > because it's easier.  There's still a lot of chest pounders
> that feel
> all
> > programmers would be better if they started out coding assembler.
>
> Dunno about the chest pounding, but I absolutely agree that
> all programmers would be better if they started out
> programming assembler.
> If you don't understand basic Boolean logic, or how an
> interrupt works, or the concept of re-entrant code, or how a
> database works, then you are much less prepared to write programs.
>
> Now, how much that matters depends on the kind of work you are doing.
> For example, you don't need a lot of training to flip
> burgers, while on the other hand, you're pretty stupid to do
> major home electrical work without expert knowledge.
>
> Similarly, you can write queries even if you can't tie your own shoes.
> But trying to write an order entry system without having
> good, solid programming fundamentals is tantamount to
> replacing an outlet without turning off the power.  Not that
> there aren't people who do that sort of thing; emergency
> rooms are full of them.  And there are people who will
> attempt to program without the necessary skills, and they get
> the same kind of results.  And then they blame the machine.
>
> You can call me all kinds of names, Rob, but I'll take an
> experienced assembly language programmer (if you can find one
> in this day of drag'n'drop coding) any day.
>
> Joe
>
> And now some haiku:
>
>      A file that big?
>      It might be very useful.
>      But now it is gone.
>
>      Chaos reigns within.
>      Reflect, repent, and reboot.
>      Order shall return.
>
> --
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>

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