[NTLUG:Discuss] The wrong computation example from the newsgroup

[Buddy Brannan]

On Mon, Mar 19, 2001 at 02:37:34PM +0000, m m wrote:
> you guys are so smart, know all the details of these stuff, and do not think 
> it is a problem (because of the architecture of computer, the complier....)
> Question here:  for those who are not a programmer or just know how to use 
> computer, Linux can still be trusted? (remember back to the first message of 
> this thread, the author said some thing like "it only happen on Linux 
> distros....")
> in other words, if I am going to use Linux for business, and I have do 
> computation like the example, and I got wrong result. I think it may not 
> acceptable, people are looking for a reliable computers (OSs). shouldn't 
> this problem be fixed? (remember it only happen on Linux box)

Yeah, the "problem" only happened under Linux (so says the author), but
remember, also, that it's an artificial problem...or so it seems to me
(also as a mere user, and not a programmer--although I'm slowly
working on learning C and other useful things). In other words, the
person who wrote the program that exhibits this "problem",
(non-problem, since it's really artificial in nature) did so expecting
certain exact results using an inexact tool. In other words, you want
integers to come out as integers, use integers as input--don't expect
floating point numbers (non-integers) to come out as integers. At
least, the C books I've read say that if you ask for an integer from a
floating-point number, the decimal portion will only be cut off and
not necessarily rounded up the way that we learn it's done in
elementary school. So, I mean, if your business is that of
manufacturing problems to prove an already drawn conclusion, then
perhaps you don't want to use Linux, but I don't know anyone in that
sort of business. For real-world applications, it sure seems to me
that Linux fills the bill nicely. At least, I've used it (admittedly,
for just my personal desktop use) for just about two years, with no
ill effects, except the ones I caused myself because I was being a bonehead.

-- 
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV    | I choose you to take up all of my time.
Email: davros at ycardz.com | I choose you because you're funny and kind
Phone: (972) 276-6360    | I want easy people from now on.
                         | --the Nields