Chapter 124: Language is good, but standards are hard to maintain (3k)

Shocked by the name Gao Zhendong said, the people in the computing office were stunned for a while.

It seems that Director Gao has great confidence in this computer language as he gave it such a meaningful name.

Director Li smiled and said, "Director Gao, you have a good name. Is the function of this language similar to Fortran?"

Director Li asked, "When I saw printf, I remembered print in Fortran."

Gao Zhendong shook his head: "Fortran has its uses. As of now, Fortran is better than it in scientific computing."

Director Li asked, "What's its use?"

Gao Zhendong smiled and said, "Remember our previous generation of computers and DJS-59? Apart from the main components, what is the biggest difference?"

A comrade from the computing office asked stupidly, "There are keyboards and monitors?"

Chief Engineer Chi turned around and said, "You've wasted your time attending Director Gao's class! Go back and read Director Gao's computer architecture textbook several times! It's about both special-purpose and general-purpose!!"

Just as he finished speaking, Chief Engineer Chi and Director Li suddenly reacted, looked at each other, and then turned to look at Gao Zhendong in shock: "Director Gao, you wrote a universal computer language?!"

There is nothing wrong with developing a computer language, but it is troublesome to develop a general computer language. Director Li and Chief Engineer Chi can't even think of what issues need to be considered and what needs to be done to develop such a language.

What's more, Gao Zhendong was alone and had other tasks to undertake in such a short time.

After thinking about it carefully, the two of them were ecstatic. General-purpose computer + general-purpose high-level language, they had some idea of ​​what this meant.

Gao Zhendong showed the two what a true "universal" computer language is.

Efficient, concise, and structured, especially structured, which is more complete than Fortran, opening a new door for them.

The syntax is clear and concise, the operations are rich, the program format is flexible and changeable, and the data types are complete. Pointers in particular fascinate them.

In fact, it is not all good. For example, C's memory management has always been criticized. It can even be said that C's memory management supported a large number of hackers and information security service companies in the future. However, Gao Zhendong did not change it, and he could not change it.

But for the two of them, it is impossible to tell the difference. They are immersed in the world of C language and cannot extricate themselves.

It’s like if many people suddenly traveled through time to ten years later, they might not be able to remember anything else except “Oh shit! Oh shit!” for a short period of time.

When Gao Zhendong used some simple example programs to demonstrate the various standard library functions, everyone present was speechless.

In fact, it was not until this time that they actually felt what the "general-purpose computer" that Gao Zhendong had always talked about meant.

After all, "what you learn from books is always shallow", and what Gao Zhendong demonstrated on DJS-59 before was still a non-universal usage method.

The emergence of C language made them realize the huge possibilities behind having a language that is free and general enough.

The deeply rooted habitual thinking began to loosen up slowly after the foundation of general computer architecture was laid and the actual effect of C language was demonstrated.

Even when Gao Zhendong used the “*” sign to type a simple y=x^2 function graph on the screen, everyone was amazed, wondering if the monitor could be used in this way.

Gao Zhendong thought, it’s because I don’t have time to make a graphics library, otherwise I would draw a real one for you.

After Gao Zhendong briefly explained the architectural relationship from machine language, assembly language to C language, the two top computer experts realized one thing: this language was not just prepared for DJS-59.

Director Li held Gao Zhendong's hand and shook it vigorously twice: "Director Gao, now I understand why you named it 'C' language."

Chief Engineer Chi pinched his chin and said, "I suggest publishing this. We want all computer experts to know the 'C' language. This language is very portable."

They are very clear about the porting of computer languages. They know that as long as the underlying layer is changed and certain requirements are followed, the C language can be ported to other computers.

In fact, C language is known as an "intermediate language" in the industry. It is more advanced than assembly language, but closer to the bottom layer than other languages. This allows it to basically do everything more conveniently. Of course, compared to new languages ​​such as Java and Python that have a large number of support libraries in the future, it may not be so convenient to use.

But at this time, there is no more convenient computer language than it.

After listening to Chief Engineer Chi's words, Director Li thought for a while and said, "Well, what Old Chi said makes sense. I will go and arrange the channels and scope of publication. This thing does not involve any secrets, so it should be able to be released to the public."

At this point, the two of them remembered a question: "Director Gao, are you ready for the full grammar and instructions for this language?"

Gao Zhendong nodded and took out the simplified GB/T 15272 manuscript, but the title on the cover was "Programming Language C"

The two of them took it and each read half.

As I watched, I gasped. This thing is a bit obscure.

It's all a bunch of dry stuff, with almost no connection or coherence between all the contents. There's no gradual progression at all, and it just hits you in the face over and over again.

It's a bit like teaching you how to build a photolithography machine, but they only take out a convex lens and a flashlight: "Look, this is the light source, this is a convex lens, and this is the focusing phenomenon of the convex lens. Do you understand? Do you understand? Okay, you can build the photolithography machine." It's very difficult to stay tense.

The two of them exchanged a few words while flipping through the books.

After reading a few pages, Chief Engineer Chi raised his head and said, "Director Gao, this is a bit difficult to understand."

Gao Zhendong nodded: "Indeed, this is the standard document of the C language. The standard document strives to be concise, clear, and complete in narrative, without ambiguity or redundant content, so it is relatively obscure."

When Chief Engineer Chi heard what Gao Zhendong said, he thought, Director Gao's summary of the standards is very accurate, but this thing is really hard to understand.

Seeing the two people's miserable faces, Gao Zhendong smiled and said, "I am writing a set of popular textbooks on this language, which will be much easier to understand. This one is the core foundation, for professionals among professionals, and the other one is for application personnel."

The two of them felt relieved. Director Gao was indeed thoughtful and considerate in his work.

Gao Zhendong made another request: "Director Li, Chief Engineer Chi, please find some people to help me do something. I'm really too busy here."

The two agreed without hesitation.

According to the contents of Appendix E and Appendix F in GB/T 15272, Gao Zhendong asked the Institute of Operations to list all the information related to warning messages and portability from this standard and then submit it to him for review.

Appendices E and F of GB/T 15272 are actually two indexes, which list a brief description of each of the two categories of content and indicate where the chapters in the standard can be found.

In the formulation of this standard, this is a physical job, and Gao Zhendong was too lazy to do it, so he simply asked people from the Institute of Operations to do it.

When the two heard this, they thought, this is a simple one. There is nothing else to do because we have more people.

Then Chief Engineer Chi was more concerned about the general textbook of C language, and told Gao Zhendong: "Director Gao, please publish your general textbook as soon as possible. This standard is very good for publication, but if we want everyone to really use it, we still have to rely on your textbook."

Director Li and Chief Engineer Chi are going to get two sets of magnetic core memories and copy the C compiler.

One of the sets was left with Gao Zhendong as a backup.

They took the other set back to the computing center and organized the staff to learn it first.

However, it may be difficult to use it in a short period of time. Without Gao Zhendong's guidance, it would be quite difficult to meet the standards.

It would be better to wait for Gao Zhendong to bring out the universal teaching materials. That standard is really too difficult to understand.

After seeing off the people from the Operation Office, Gao Zhendong took advantage of the remaining time to rest as he had classes in the afternoon.

Once the C language work is completed, it is estimated that the results in this area will come out more slowly, because Gao Zhendong is going to work on big things in the computer field next, and he may have to recruit people from the Institute of Computing Technology.

At the end of the afternoon, when the two teaching assistants came with the test papers to distribute, Director Li and Chief Engineer Chi felt a little regretful that they did not go to see Gao Zhendong at the agreed time in the afternoon. They actually had to take an exam?

Just when Gao Zhendong was conducting the "Project Management System" training, Mr. Chen from the leadership office of the 17th Ministry of Machine Building came to report on the new material research plan given by Gao Zhendong.

The leader looked at the plan and said with a smile: "Comrade Zhendong is worthy of being the one who wrote the project management system. This plan is very methodical."

Mr. Chen nodded and said, "Yes, our department is referring to Zhendong's plan format and outline."

After reading the plan carefully, the leader was a little surprised: "I see that there is very little theoretical research in this plan, but more process, testing, and verification. Is Zhendong so sure?"

Mr. Chen has gotten used to this situation. "Yes, that's right. Gao Zhendong's style has always been like this. It's as if he has a high degree of confidence in whatever he does. Thermocouples, 591, 592, 593, these are all like this. Although we are surprised, we are used to it."

The leader chuckled and said, "Haha, maybe that's what genius is like."

Mr. Chen was at a loss for words. The leader could say that Gao Zhendong was a genius, but if he agreed, it seemed like something was not right, so he just laughed.

The leaders also believe in Gao Zhendong's success rate in doing things, after all, his past achievements are there.

Just think of it as Gao Zhendong having his own special style and method. As the saying goes, "Everyone has his own way of killing a pig or a butt."

He told General Manager Chen about the department's arrangements: "From the requirements you gave me last time, the most important thing is to have a side-blown converter. At the same time, considering the coordination of other processes, it would be best if it is a steel plant. Considering that your plant is not a professional steel plant, it is difficult to organize equipment and personnel, so the department decided to transfer a workshop with a side-blown converter in Beijing Steel, including the equipment and personnel, to cooperate with you."

Mr. Chen smiled and said, "Thank you, boss. If we were to do it ourselves, we probably wouldn't even be able to get all the equipment together."

The leader smiled and said, "Jinggang has already started preparations. As for the materials, you don't have to worry. Once Gao Zhendong finishes the training, you can go directly to Jinggang. They will cooperate with you."

　First update.

The last two updates today will be late because I have to take an elderly person at home to see a dentist.

　
(End of this chapter)