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This is intended as a way to run computation close to data. Some databases embed Lua or pluggable languages for that; ZeroVM can run NaCL binaries (compiled wi

by Tobu 15y ago

This is intended as a way to run computation close to data. Some databases embed Lua or pluggable languages for that; ZeroVM can run NaCL binaries (compiled with a special toolchain), verified in the same manner as the JVM checks bytecode, on a very limited sandbox (just some pre-configured data channels). Besides the NaCL verifications, they are enforcing functional programming: the program only has access to deterministic instructions and library calls.

Tobu 15y ago
Why downvotes? I provided an explanation because the initial reaction on HN was confusion.
- skrebbel 15y ago
  They're called the downvote mafia. Little to do about them.
  - andybak 15y ago
    Is it people or scripts? What's the motivation or is it a mystery?
    - skrebbel 15y ago
      It's people. I'm slightly blinded by their motivation. Something inside me wants to believe they're 14 year old mischievous scriptkiddies, but I bet they're really just guys and girls like you and me.
wladimir 15y ago
Is it right to equate functional programming and determinism though? Functional programming implies a certain programming style / type of language, whose output is guaranteed to be deterministic if only pure functions are used. But they're not the same thing.
- camuel2 15y ago
  ZeroVM invocation is a pure function. ZeroVM cluster invocation is a pure function. Functional programming according to wikipedia is - "a programming paradigm that treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions and avoids state and mutable data" ZeroVM invocations satisfy that definition. With existing Swift integration all storage is immutable and ZeroVM cannot have any state by design.