Login or Register to Ask a Question and Join Our Community


UNIX and Linux RSS News

Why Software is Abstract, by PolR

Login to Discuss or Reply to this Discussion in Our Community

 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Special Forums News, Links, Events and Announcements UNIX and Linux RSS News Why Software is Abstract, by PolR
# 1  
Old 10-07-2010
Why Software is Abstract, by PolR
Why Software Is Abstract
by PolR




Following the ruling of the Supreme Court in Bilski, the USPTO asked, in substance, how to tell an abstract idea from an application of the idea. In this article I propose an answer to the question of what makes software abstract. It is a follow up to the previous article, Physical Aspects of Mathematics.

The logic is to look at why a mathematical calculation is abstract and then see if the same logic applies to software. It happens that it does. It is possible to show that software is abstract with references to the underlying mathematical aspects. This is not, however, the topic for this article. The argument is presented without any assumption as to whether or not software is mathematics. I work from the observation that a mathematical calculation solving a mathematical problem is abstract. Then I look at what makes it abstract. Then I observe that the exact same logic is applicable to all software whether or not the law sees it as an algorithm as defined by Benson. This is not surprising. Software is mathematics and this makes it abstract, but I don't use or rely on this fact in making the arguments in this article.



More...
Login or Register to Ask a Question

Previous Thread | Next Thread

5 More Discussions You Might Find Interesting

1. Programming

Java Abstract Classes

Can anyone tell me if this is correct when creating classes in Java? public abstract class Animal { public class Point { public int x,y; } public class Animal { protected Point loc; protected String name; protected Random rng; String... (3 Replies)
Discussion started by: totoro125
3 Replies

2. Programming

C++ abstract (singleton) factory implementation...

I want to create an abstract factory template which will allow me to pass in an "ID" for a subclass and return the singleton instance of that class stored in the factory. It'd be easy to adapt for "multi-ton", but for its present use this isn't necessary. The requirements are: - I don't want... (2 Replies)
Discussion started by: DreamWarrior
2 Replies

3. Shell Programming and Scripting

abstract.sh

A highly abstract function invocation, just enjoy it ,guys! #!/bin/bash loop() { for((${1}=0; ${1}<${2}; ++${1})); do eval \$\{{3..12}\} done } numb() { echo -n "${!1}${!2}${!3} " (( ${3} == 2 )) && echo } eval loop" "{i..k}" 3" numb {i..k} (10 Replies)
Discussion started by: complex.invoke
10 Replies

4. Programming

how abstract class differs in Java and C++?

hello all, i want to know if there is any difference in working and syntax declaration of abstract class in Java and C++. (1 Reply)
Discussion started by: haravivar
1 Replies

5. Programming

Compiling multiple cpp files (abstract factory pattern)

Hi all, I have been working with java for awhile and because of my school projects I needed to switch C++. I tried to implement some patterns in C++ but unfortunately I couldn't. Specifically, I tried to implement abstract factory pattern but since I used separated files (habitual behavior from... (4 Replies)
Discussion started by: SaTYR
4 Replies
Login or Register to Ask a Question

LEARN ABOUT DEBIAN

class::virtually::abstract

Class::Virtually::Abstract(3pm) 			User Contributed Perl Documentation			   Class::Virtually::Abstract(3pm)

NAME

       Class::Virtually::Abstract - Compile-time enforcement of Class::Virtual

SYNOPSIS

	 package My::Virtual::Idaho;
	 use base qw(Class::Virtually::Abstract);

	 __PACKAGE__->virtual_methods(qw(new foo bar this that));

	 package My::Private::Idaho;
	 use base qw(My::Virtual::Idaho);

	 sub new { ... }
	 sub foo { ... }
	 sub bar { ... }
	 sub this { ... }
	 # oops, forgot to implement that()!!  Whatever will happen?!

	 # Meanwhile, in another piece of code!
	 # KA-BLAM!  My::Private::Idaho fails to compile because it didn't
	 # fully implement My::Virtual::Idaho.
	 use My::Private::Idaho;

DESCRIPTION

       This subclass of Class::Virtual provides compile-time enforcement.  That means subclasses of your virtual class are required to implement
       all virtual methods or else it will not compile.

BUGS and CAVEATS
       Because this relies on import() it is important that your classes are used instead of required.	This is a problem, and I'm trying to
       figure a way around it.

       Also, if a subclass defines its own import() routine (I've done it) Class::Virtually::Abstract's compile-time checking is defeated.

       Got to think of a better way to do this besides import().

AUTHOR

       Original idea and code from Ben Tilly's AbstractClass http://www.perlmonks.org/index.pl?node_id=44300&lastnode_id=45341

       Embraced and Extended by Michael G Schwern <schwern@pobox.com>

SEE ALSO

       Class::Virtual

perl v5.10.1							    2007-10-23					   Class::Virtually::Abstract(3pm)