6 ms·
The technical knowledge in it is both out of date, and more relevant than ever. The particular details are long since irrelevant - even in 1996 optimizing for
by spitfire 10y ago
The technical knowledge in it is both out of date, and more relevant than ever.
The particular details are long since irrelevant - even in 1996 optimizing for the 8086 was irrelevant. But the thought process, approach and lessons learnt from optimizing the 8086 are still relevant today.
In fact, they're probably more easily demonstrated through and example using the 8086 than in modern environments. I still use Abrash's S3 FIFO buffer story when I'm mentoring people.
So yes, but no.
- pkaye 10y agoWhat is the S3 FIFO buffer story?
- spitfire 10y agoRead the book and find out! The Volvo story is also worth reading. Correction: Video Seven story. http://www.jagregory.com/abrash-black-book/#chapter-64-quakes-visible-surface-determination http://www.jagregory.com/abrash-black-book/#chapter-64-quake...
- dr_zoidberg 10y agoThat's one of the best stories in the book! I also like the Great Buffalo Sauna Fiasco.
- kijiki 10y agoParadise, not S3.
- dr_zoidberg 10y agoFor more up to date technical knowledge, I really liked his software 3d renderer articles. He talks about Pentium 4s and such, which are old of course, but he gives good tips on optimizing for a cache hungry, superscalar processor (which is pretty much relevant today).
- choosername 10y agoi used a p4 until this year and upgraded only to save power.
- dr_zoidberg 10y agoI have an old Pentium M notebook with 256 RAM lying around with Linux for optimizing. If you get it to run fast in it, it should run pretty much anywhere. I'm looking to moving to an old netbook though, but I'm not sure because of the architecture of the first Atoms.
- Narishma 10y agoCan't you use something like a Raspberry Pi for that?
- dr_zoidberg 10y agoIf I was optimizing for ARM the RPi would be a great machine :) The Penitum M is sort of like "the missing link" between old and newer architectures. From it "evolved" the Core Duo brand (I also have one of those around), Core 2 Duo, and Core i3/5/7 architectures. And while there are differences, the M is still similar enough to be representative.
- emcrazyone 10y agoagreed, excellent point I wish more people would take note of or recognize.