Re: Conway's Game of Life (cellular automata)

[Michael Vanier <mvanier@bbb.caltech.edu>]

Great story!  I'll use it.  Although my C experience peaks at about the 60K
lines level...

Mike


> From: Matthias Felleisen <matthias@ccs.neu.edu>
> Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2001 09:20:09 -0500 (EST)
> 
> 
> As Shriram pointed out .. 
> 
> But more to the point, here is a story I learned from Keith Cooper who
> took over the intro course from Kathi Fisler who took over from me. 
> 
> Keith starts his course with this scenario: 
> 
>  "Everyone please stand up."
> 
>  "If you have not written a program of more than 10 lines, 
>   please have a seat." 
> about 30% sit down
> 
>  "If you have not written a program of more than 100 lines, 
>   please have a seat." 
> a few more sit down
> 
>  "If you have not written a program of more than 1,000 lines, 
>   please have a seat." 
> 99% sit down. 
> 
>  "If you have not written a program of more than 10,000 lines, 
>   please have a seat." 
> everyone's sitting by now. 
> 
>  "If you have not written a program of more than 100,000 lines, 
>   please have a seat." 
> everyone's sitting by now. 
> 
>  "I have written a program that requires 500,000 lines of C code.
>   I have chosen to teach this first course with Scheme because it 
>   will teach you something good. Are there any questions?"
> 
> I bet that many of you out there can adapt this game to your setting. 
> 
> -- Matthias
> 
> P.S. Cooper conducts compiler research and is involved with the GNU C
> project now, funded by some large agency. 
>