keeping simple

Author: yodaiken

  • Speculation on modularity and information theory

    One way of defining modules is by what engineers have to know. If a program X consists of components X1 … Xn then we can say Xi is a module if a programmer can modify it without learning “much” about any other module. A second, related measure can be in terms of information hiding –…

  • multicore and virtualization and real-time provisioning

    We added the “reservation” capability to RTCore real-time POSIX threads a couple of years ago. Normally, the client platform operating system shares the processor with RTCore threads as a completely pre-emptible low priority thread. This works exceptionally well. Worst case interrupt latencies of under 10 microseconds on Opterons and under 20 on Arm9s are possible…

  • Single core cell phone solution and marketing vs engineering

    FSMLabs is finally able to discuss the single core cell phone handset solution we developed with Infineon Technologies last year. This system is cool technology – literally – since it allows parts count reduction on the handset and that reduces power consumption and that reduces heat production. More to the point, in a volume driven…

  • Microkernels and why academic OS research is boring

    Andy Tanenbaum writes a defense of microkernels that (1) misses the content of Linus Torvald’s critique, (2) ignores the most relevant paper on software development, David Parnas’ Software Jewels paper, and (3) pretends RTLinux does not exist. The problem with microkernels is that they are not modular and the problem with all the “nearly ready…

  • GreenHills, foreigners, and the gummi bear threat

    When GreenHills launched their anti-Linux offensive, they crossed a line – and I doubt they even knew it. To cast doubt on the value of Linux in critical applications, GreenHills tried to create a scare about the nationality and “loyalty” of engineers working on Linux. This is stupid on three levels. First, software security is…

  • Pitiful formal methods in computer science

    FSMLabs is making its way through the DO178 requirements and we’ve given a lot of thought to Common Criteria over the last couple years. One of the advantages of DO178 is that it does not accept the totally untested and frankly unlikely premises of “formal methods”. The reason mathematics has advanced so much was not…

  • Above all, the SUSPENSE: Wind River’s DSO with Robert Mitchum and hippies! (updated)

    I’ve been meaning to write about DSO – WindRiver’s attempt to define synthetic “standards” (see the linuxdevices article for technical detail and a more serious approach). “Is DSO hype or substance?” asked Wind River CEO Ken Klein during the sponsored address, and sought to persuade the engineers in the audience that it is indeed substance…

  • Paul Erdös day

    March 26 is Paul Erdös birthday. The book about Erdös by Paul Hoffman is a nice read and thought provoking. Erdös’ concept of the BOOK recording the most elegant proofs is one that is natural for both mathematicians and engineers even though he might have disagreed. The relationship between mathematics and engineering is peculiar: Erdös…

  • Spinning the press about technology

    We’ve been an engineering driven company from day one – something that leads us to be frustrated with “analysts” and reporters who seem unwilling to challenge marketing. For example, here’s how a recent Investor’s Business Daily article starts: “With a fast-growing presence in everything from servers to cell phones, the Linux operating system appears ready…

  • Auragen computers remembered

    In the early 1980s, I worked for a start-up called Auragen Computers based in Fort Lee, New Jersey. We were making a 68K based fault tolerant UNIX based on a smart idea by Sam Glazer. Most of the software engineers lived in New York City and commuted out. Start-ups with New Yorkers have a different…