61–70 of 70 posts
Test driven development would take on a new meaning, with the programmer a writing collection of tests and letting the computer find the shortest program that makes them pass.
One important thing about TDD, in my view, is that you have two separate descriptions (the test and the code) that agree. If you get your code generated from your tests then how do you detect bugs in your tests?
The US government pays a million bucks per new prime right? Just push those out every week or so.
Test driven development would take on a new meaning, with the programmer a writing collection of tests and letting the computer find the shortest program that makes them pass.
Wouldn't writing a complete test suite take equivalent effort to writing the program in the first place? I mean, wouldn't they require the same amount of information? Then, to simplify the task of writing test suites, you might want to design a programming language that compiles into test suites, but would you use your program-writing program to write the program that describes the test suite? And also, who watches t…
The P=NP optimizer/generator will then generate an implementation that is optimal along one or more dimensions (like space or time efficiency).
Also-- regardless of that, It's "easier" in several senses to describe the desired behavior of an API than to implement that API.
Let's say we wanted to implement addition for a calculator. Here's a complete description:
-1 is the lowest number
-successor(N) is the successor to number N
That's a complete description of the natural number system, but it's not a useful addition function in any sense.
I've always thought that this would make a great plot for a science fiction novel. A computer science fiction novel. There would be lots of intrigue, as the guy was tracked down by the NSA and covertly outwitted his opponents using his proof, until a final showdown where he discovers the horrifying truth about who else knows that P=NP, and what happens to everyone else who's ever proven it. So...should I look for a l…
I imagine such a thing involves a lot of extreme refactoring, hot plugging, and something with an obscene amount of command line action.
I've always assumed it is a given that as soon as you make that discovery, all sorts of agencies would be hunting after you and you would have to run for your life. So my worry would be how to safely publish the information to get off the hook. I used to think publishing it to Usenet and sending lots of emails would do the trick, but I am not so sure anymore.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
and if you in fact have a problem that shows P=NP, publish it so you can win the millenium prize, 1 million dollars plus ease at getting tenure so you can goof off is nothing to sneeze at
Even though the millenium prize may be the most obvious solution, your best option might be to monetize the discovery privately.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wouldn't writing a complete test suite take equivalent effort to writing the program in the first place? I mean, wouldn't they require the same amount of information? Then, to simplify the task of writing test suites, you might want to design a programming language that compiles into test suites, but would you use your program-writing program to write the program that describes the test suite? And also, who watches t…
The test suite will describe the desired behavior, regardless of all other dimensions. The P=NP optimizer/generator will then generate an implementation that is optimal along one or more dimensions (like space or time efficiency). Also-- regardless of that, It's "easier" in several senses to describe the desired behavior of an API than to implement that API. Let's say we wanted to implement addition for a calculator.…
-1 is the lowest number
-successor(N) is the successor to number N
In the first place, that is not a complete description of natural numbers. Natural numbers have to be integers. So if you're going to tell a computer program that "1 is the lowest number", you'd first have to tell it what you mean by "number" and "lowest". Also, "successor(N) is the successor to number N"? That seems rather meaningless. What is "successor" in the first place? If your generator already knows what "successor" means, why do you have to describe it again? If the generator doesn't know what "successor" means, why are you using it in your description of a successor function?
That's a complete description of the natural number system, but it's not a useful addition function in any sense.
Even assuming your description was complete, why would a description of the set of natural numbers imply the creation of an addition function? Unless we're talking about a code generator that reads minds! :)
I've always assumed it is a given that as soon as you make that discovery, all sorts of agencies would be hunting after you and you would have to run for your life. So my worry would be how to safely publish the information to get off the hook. I used to think publishing it to Usenet and sending lots of emails would do the trick, but I am not so sure anymore.
I would post a question on HN saying "P=NP, what do you do?" and then take the best suggestion.
I feel so unclean for saying that.