LeFantome
@LeFantome@programming.dev
- Comment on Why we don't have 128-bit CPUs 1 week ago:
I would say that you make a decent argument that the ALU has the strongest claim to the “bitness” of a CPU. In that way, we are already beyond 64 bit.
For me though, what really defines a CPU is the software that runs natively. The Zen4 runs software written for the AMD64 family of processors. That is, it runs 64 bit software. This software will not run on the “32 bit” x86 processors that came before it ( like the K5, K6, and original Athlon ). If AMD released the AMD128 instruction set, it would not run on the Zen4 even though it may technically be enough hardware to do so.
The Motorola 68000 only had a 16 but ALU but was able to run the same 32 bit software that ran in later Motorola processors that were truly 32 bit. Software written for the 68000 was essentially still native on processors sold as late as 2014 ( 35 years after the 68000 was released ). This was not some kid of compatibility mode, these processors were still using the same 32 bit ISA.
The Linux kernel that runs on the Zen4 will also run on 64 bit machines made 20 years ago as they also support the amd64 / x86-64 ISA.
Where the article is correct is that there does not seem to be much push to move on from 64 bit software. The Zen4 supports instructions to perform higher-bit operations but they are optional. Most applications do not use them, including the operating system. For the most part, the Zen4 runs the same software as the Opteron ( released in 2003 ). The same pre-compiled Linux distro will run on both.
- Comment on Five Men Convicted of Operating Massive, Illegal Streaming Service That Allegedly Had More Content Than Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and Prime Video Combined 1 week ago:
He is saying that people that get rich selling others people’s stuff without paying for it are not “in it for the money”. What don’t you understand.
- Comment on Own a Roku TV or streaming device? You're about to see a lot more ads on your home screen 5 months ago:
PiHole blocks the current ads. Hopefully these new ones too.
- Comment on Java 10 months ago:
I do not like Java but this is a strange argument. The people that invented Java felt that most of the C language should be wrapped in unsafe.
Opinions can vary but saying Java is not a real language is evidence free name calling. One could just as easily say that any language that does not allow you to differentiate between safe and unsafe baheviour is incomplete and not a “real” language. It is not just the Java and C# people that may say this. As a C fan, I am sure you have heard Rust people scoff at C as a legacy language that was fine for its day but clearly outclassed now that the “real” languages have arrived. Are you any more correct than they are?
- Comment on Java 10 months ago:
Technically, a double stores more integers exactly and then approximations of integers of much larger sizes. A long stored all its integers exactly but cannot handle values nearly as large.
For most real world data ranges, they are both going to store integers exactly.
- Comment on Horror 11 months ago:
Italians did not invent pizza.
Fruit on pizza is wrong.
Tomatoes are not a fruit.