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SUBJECTS
Assembler 32-bit Code for Medit Gary Johnson Submits Techno  gy Sour

0403 -
0403 -    ..
0404 - Summary/Objective
0405 -
040501 - Follow up
040502 -
040503 -
040504 -
040506 -  ..
0406 -
0407 -
0408 - Progress
0409 -
040901 - On 040505 Gary submitted a source to research using assembly to create
040902 - the next version of SDS with more memory by updating the current Medit
040903 - program based on assembly. ref SDS 1 QU8K
040905 -  ..
040906 - On 081104 Morris discussed writing an updated version of Medit for SDS
040907 - using Java rather than assembly. ref SDS 2 2W6I  At that time on
040908 - 081104 reviewed advantages of using assembly, beginning with 30 years
040909 - successful experience using assembly for Knowledge Management
040910 - development, and so requires less time, only about 6 months,
040911 - ref SDS 2 YP4L, and stronger compatibility. ref SDS 2 VO3P
040912 -
040914 -  ..
040915 - Sent a letter to Steve
040916 -
040917 -    1.  Subject: Editor 16-bit Upgrade 64-bit Microsoft Vista with assembly language
040918 -        Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:45:34 -0800
040925 -         ..
040926 -    3.  Very kind of you to comment.
040928 -         ..
040929 -    4.  We know there will be a lot of testing to upgrade Medit one way
040930 -        or the other [cited in the record on 081123, ref SDS 3 RO4X,
040932 -         ..
040933 -    5.  Was hoping to get 2 or 3 advantages for upgrading the editor
040934 -        from 16-bit to 32-bit and/or 64-bit assembly, rather than write
040935 -        the program de novo with Java, which is the current effort.
040936 -
040937 -            [On 081202 2011 Steve responded that recoding Medit will be
040938 -            difficult using an entirely different language [Java rather
040939 -            than Assembly] environment without needing to then fight
040940 -            for perfect compatibility on all of the "edge" cases.
040941 -            ref SDS 4 8L8T
040943 -         ..
040944 -    6.  My colleagues say the only benefits of assembly are small
040945 -        program size and fast processing.
040946 -
040947 -            [On 081202 2011 Steve cites another significant benefit
040948 -            that because Medit is already in assembly language, moving
040949 -            from 16-bits to 32-bits is a vastly smaller task that is
040950 -            much less prone to translation errors than recoding from
040951 -            scratch in an entirely different language. ref SDS 4 8L91
040953 -             ..
040954 -            [On 081202 2011 Steve recommends recoding in 32-bit MASM so
040955 -            that you have universal compatibility both with all current
040956 -            PC systems, and with future x64 platforms which will
040957 -            certainly be supporting x32 forever. ref SDS 4 YW50
040959 -         ..
040960 -    7.  They note increasing memory for SDS from 640K to 64 MB makes
040961 -        size a non-issue, and running SDS on 64-bit quad-core
040962 -        processors will maintain SDS responsiveness using Java, rather
040963 -        than assembly.  I have doubts.  Making the program bigger, and
040964 -        increasing the size of work files may reduce responsiveness,
040965 -        even for faster processors.
040966 -
040967 -            [On 081202 2011 Steve says JAVA is a platform-independent
040968 -            solution with JVMs available pretty much everywhere; and
040969 -            current machines are SO FAST that JAVA should work well for
040970 -            anything that's predominantly interactive and not heavily
040971 -            computational. ref SDS 4 8L40
040973 -         ..
040974 -    8.  My sense is that the current program in 16-bit assembly has
040975 -        worked well for 30 years, as SDS evolved through trial and
040976 -        error into a robust application.
040977 -
040978 -            [On 081202 2011 Steve responds saying keeping the code in
040979 -            assembler, just expanding the code from 16-bits to 32-bits
040980 -            -- you RETAIN 100% of all of the trial and error work.
040981 -            ref SDS 4 8L47
040983 -         ..
040984 -    9.  Therefore continuing this platform in 32-bit or 64-bit assembly
040985 -        introduces the fewest changes that have to be solved for
040986 -        getting macros to run in order to maintain continuity of SDS
040987 -        development and daily use for Knowledge Management.
040988 -
040989 -            [On 081202 2011 Steve seems to concur saying without
040990 -            question using assembly provides the best path for
040991 -            continuity of SDS capability; and notes that JAVA might be
040992 -            more appealing to anyone who is not comfortable with
040993 -            assembler, but it's also the case that whereas the straight
040994 -            16-bit to 32-bit translation is LINEAR, the JAVA conversion
040995 -            could wind up taking MUCH longer -- it could become a black
040996 -            hole as the recoders attempt to get it to work in exactly
040997 -            the same way. ref SDS 4 8L54
040999 -             ..
041000 -            [On 081202 2011 Steve codes in assembler becasue there is
041001 -            no compiler producing anything unexpected; enables
041002 -            controlling exactly what the outcome will be. ref SDS 4
041003 -            8L6P
041005 -         ..
041006 -   10.  You seem enthusiastic about assembly, so I thought you might
041007 -        have several points that could inform our considerations.
041008 -
041009 -            [On 081202 2011 Steve reports writing Windows applications
041010 -            in assembler language. ref SDS 4 8L64
041012 -         ..
041013 -   11.  On your last point about running SDS with Virtual PC, have [you]
041014 -        done this, and so know from experience it will work?  We have
041015 -        been running SDS with NTVD in Windows XP; that is what I would
041016 -        first consider using.  Any reason to try Windows 3.1 mentioned
041017 -        in your letter today?
041018 -
041019 -            [On 081202 2011 Seve advises that running SDS in Windows XP
041020 -            is fine. ref SDS 4 8M31
041022 -         ..
041023 -   12.  Sincerely,
041025 -         ..
041026 -   13.  Rod
041027 -
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