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February 20, 2004
Concurrent Programming, C++ vs Java
Just a little rant about the trials and tribulations of myself completing an assignment for my school in C++ where Java is the adopted \"standard\". How annoying has Java become?
Well, where to begin. I was given an assignment in my concurrent programming course to solve the array addition problem by using the iterative and recursive threading methods. The recursive threading solution would break down the array of int\'s until we approach our threshold, add, report, and terminate. The iterative method was to create a defined number of threads who all work on the array at the same time. Now that I described the problem, let\'s go to what happened to me!
I decided to attack this problem using C++ and the ACE Wrappers. To be quite honest, I thought I would be applauded for my origonal approach to the problem, but no! It turns out that it is better to copy/paste off the profs website solutions in Java then write a unique solution in C++. My solution required a singleton, Command class, which controlled both simulations. Also contained in the Commander class was a semaphore to control the accessing of the iterative threads as they ask for numbers to work with. Anyway, you can check out the source code for the Commander
Iterative Solution cpp/
h,
Recursive Solution, cpp/
h
and the main.cpp or just download the
rar file here if you so desire or an exe here.
Now, where was I going with this rant? Oh yes! My efforts resulted in my losing 25% on the assignment because I didn\'t follow the class. Also, even though the solution never required the use of semaphores I used them but got nailed for it. I was supposed to know that we never covered them yet so I shouldn\'t use them. So anyway, long story short I was a bit pissed. I argured over acceptale C++ solutions instead of Java, mainly due to teh fact that my \"honors project\" if you will, is a Multithreaded C++ application for Research In Motion. Anyway, I thougth I would rant on about this here seeing that my computer will listen to me and no one will read this :)
Anyway, it\'s late and I\'m not in the mood to be bothered with this.
Posted by Daryl Martin at 06:03 AM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2004
AEC Files
Links to where all the AEC information, document, pictures and movies, are on my site.
Here it is!
Posted by Daryl Martin at 03:04 PM | Comments (0)
February 04, 2004
New Computer Stuff!!
Just a little tale about my new computer and how I got it!
Well you see, it was tuesday and I was feeling pretty bored so I decided to skip class, for those of you who don't know this isn't something out of the ordinary. So a me and a few buddys ended up at futureshop, what do you expect from computer engineers. I ended up looking at laptops and I had to buy one! After scoping out staples, priceclub (costco) and futureshop the best deal I got was at staples. Here is my sexy beast!
So now I have a nice 19" viesonic A90f to act hook up to my laptop when I'm home and my old computer, with a new 160 gig hd and dvd-burner, is currently living in my closet. Thanks be to god for PC Anywhere so I can keep on using it as a fileserver/burner. Anyway I thought this was post worthy because it's a drastic change in my life! haha
Posted by Daryl Martin at 03:05 PM | Comments (0)
Should MUN raise tuition? Or lower it?
Well, I wrote this about a year ago to the editor of the Muse and they actually published it. Just reposting it here because there was a \"lower tuition\" rally today at my university.
Dear editor,
As I enter my 7th year studying at Memorial University, I have seen the tuition fees climb and fall like a boat on the ocean. It doesn\'t seem that long ago I was paying over $2000 dollars a term for tuition. I\'m grateful that I\'m in the Engineering program, so work terms can easily pay for this tuition. Not everyone is so lucky.
With all the tuition cuts that we have received as of late, you have to ask yourself is it worth it? Sure an extra 5 per cent off tuition is great, but are you aware of what you are giving up for it?
From my own personal experience the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences is drastically under-funded and is in dire need of funding. For example, it was only a year ago that we were asked to complete a 70 per cent project for a course using development software that the computers we have access to could not run. It is a shame that over half of my class had to go to the Computer Science department to use their computer resources. Or how about the labs we are expected to complete, when the number of lab groups outnumbers the number of software licenses. Who sits out?
This problem isn\'t isolated to just one faculty or department, but is campus-wide. Has anyone else looked around and noticed the downward spiral our education has taken over the past few years? Where is the middle ground between a fair tuition price and quality of education? If it were up to me I would gladly pay extra tuition to upgrade computers across campus for everyone, attract better professors, upgrade lab equipment, and raise the over level of education.
The quality, not the quantity, of students graduating from a university defines the quality of the education it offers. To become a more competitive university we must not just be known as having “the cheapest tuition in Canada.” We must have the best education in Canada.
Here is the actual article and also a reply by the MUNSU VP Academic Rep, Jessica Magalios
Posted by Daryl Martin at 12:05 PM | Comments (0)