Computer hardware is the collection of physical elements that comprise a computer system.
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0answers
51 views
Do mechanical keyboards assist in productivity? [closed]
I understand there has been some research into workplace hardware's impact on productivity (especially into multiple monitor work environments), but is there any research into keyboard types and their ...
4
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4answers
367 views
What are the reasons for great performance differences running the same program?
I'm no computer scientist so please bear with me.
Lately I wrote a python program that has to perform some expensive spatial searches while holding lot's of data in memory. I tried to improve the ...
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1answer
128 views
Is it possible to buy a LispMachine-style processor as a development board? [closed]
Reading this http://www.loper-os.org/?p=46 makes me wonder. Surely there are some enthusiasts somewhere, plotting a Kickstarter project or similar to get a native Lisp-in-hardware processor made?
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3answers
500 views
What is the gain from 64-bit architecture?
I played with 8-bit machines (C64), I used 16-bit machines (Win 3.1), I enjoyed flat 32-bit address space (Linux).
Every time as a user (which was also means being a developer for fun or profit) I ...
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2answers
229 views
How long is a typical modern microprocessor pipeline?
I learnt some about pipelining but those were 4-stage and 5-stage and I think that modern pipelining typical is much longer and more complicated in practice. How long are typical pipelines and how ...
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1answer
188 views
Can we illustrate a CPU pipeline with a UML sequence diagram?
I study multicore pipelining and the diagrams are not UML sequence diagrams for instance
Why not remake this diagram like an UML sequence diagram, would not that be more clear so that we can see ...
5
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1answer
188 views
Hardware that accelerates pointer dereferencing?
Most modern languages make a heavy use of pointers / references: a typical OOP language uses VMT lookups, a typical functional language builds key data structures out of pointers, etc. Even typical C ...
35
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9answers
2k views
Looking for meaningful, strong argument in favor of antivirus software on development machines [closed]
When forming opinions, it is a good practice to follow scholastic tradition - think as hard as you can against the opinion you hold and try to find counter-arguments.
However, no matter how hard I ...
5
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3answers
570 views
Why don't computers come with specialized hardware such as sorting networks?
Instead of programming the way we do, why don't we make specifications of common tasks such as "sorting", and then let the environment compile it to make best use of it's hardware? This way, we could ...
2
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2answers
153 views
Hardware running gpl code
Let's say I am selling hardware that uses the linux kernel. Do I have to state somewhere that it is running linux(or other gpl code)?
The reason I am asking this is because I bought a television, ...
1
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1answer
172 views
How to implement RGBA in 8-bit microcontroller?
I have successfully connected my microcontroller to my TV via through VGA adapter i made that convert digital to analog signals with the help of resistors.
Currently i am utilizing 8 pins that I am ...
22
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1answer
511 views
Performance of single-assignment ADT oriented code on modern CPUs
Working in immutable data with single assignments has the obvious effect of requiring more memory, one would presume, because you're constantly creating new values (though compilers under the covers ...
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3answers
466 views
What is the difference between a stock-hardware and a micro-coded machine in “A Critique of Common Lisp”?
I was reading this article: A Critique of Common Lisp and finding it hard to make out the precise definition of "stock-hardware machine" and its difference with "micro-coded" machines. I tried to ...
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1answer
119 views
Developing a cross-platform interface for writing to hardware like PicKit OR USB over the web?
I thought long and hard on weather to put this question in programmers or stack overflow. Please let me know if this is not the right place and I will post it to SO.
My friend and I am developing a ...
3
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3answers
245 views
strategies for dealing with machine epsilon
Say you have a situation where you divide and then multiply a float, and you need to guarantee that it survives macheps (ie multiplication output equals division input). What are known strategies for ...
3
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5answers
152 views
How many different configurations are used for software tests?
This article shows that for Android apps, software developers use between 30 and 50 different devices for compatibility tests.
I tried to find information about tests of applications on "classic" ...
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2answers
268 views
How Do Computers Process Conditional/Input/ Event Based Code?
I understand that computers are basically a complex system of electrical signatures that can calculate based on logic boards, and some sort of gate mechanism, but how do computers process something ...
2
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4answers
238 views
idquantique .vs. rdrand
We are currently looking at using the idquantique random number generator device to provide random numbers. There are some issues though. We would only be using one device and we have at least 5 ...
5
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1answer
111 views
Hardware key removal on a test system
One of my company's applications still requires a hardware key to run, but we're currently in the process of removing that requirement and replacing it with an online check. The issue we are having ...
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2answers
204 views
How to get hardware specific ID [closed]
We have an application that we need to ensure that our APPLICATION DATA should not be used (or opened) in different computers with same users. For that we thought about getting harddisk GUID as a part ...
17
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3answers
903 views
Hardware requirements
How do people define the minimum hardware requirements for software? For example: how can a software development company tell the customer that they will need 8 GB of RAM to run the program properly?
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1answer
551 views
What camera to choose for using with JMF (Java Media Framework)
For the past 2-3 weeks I've been searching for different ways to implement custom video streaming and in more general video capturing and manipulating, going through DVR-cards, Video Capture Cards and ...
3
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1answer
147 views
Is this possible to re-duplicate the hardware signal on Linux?
Since that every things is a file on the UNIX system. If I have a hardware, for example, a mouse, move from left corner to right corner, it should produce some kinds of file to communicate with the ...
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2answers
209 views
Developing a DVR software using a hardware KIT [closed]
I'm currently thinking about a project for my masters degree graduation. I start researching for options to make my own video streaming software based on a premade hardware kit having not much ...
5
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1answer
274 views
Commercial product using a GPL OS
we are planning to create a commercial product. The product consists of some MCUs and a small computer (we are developing on a Raspberry Pi at the moment).
The computer needs an operating system as ...
6
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1answer
317 views
Understanding the levels of computing
Sorry, for my confused question. I'm looking for some pointers.
Up to now I have been working mostly with Java and Python on the application layer and I have only a vague understanding of operating ...
25
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6answers
2k views
Is it the job of a developer to suggest IT requirements?
I am the only developer working on a web application which is nearing to its end. Now we are looking into making it Live in maybe a couple of months time.
This is a web application for a non IT ...
2
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4answers
335 views
GPL licensed software installed on commercial hardware
Do vendors need to provide sources, at the customer's request, for GPL licensed software installed on the hardware they sell?
For example, a vendor sells an IPTV box and pre-installs some proprietary ...
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3answers
309 views
understanding computers [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Good resources to understand how a program interacts with machine hardware
I don't know if this is the correct StackExchange site to ask this question. But I could not ...
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2answers
148 views
Calculations in Vector Register
How do vector registers work in terms of calculations and alloting data to them ?
Is there a detailed reference available somewhere explaining how vector registers work and how data is fetched from ...
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2answers
2k views
Java Communications API
I'm getting close to RS232 serial communications with Java.
I saw that RS232 is included into Communications API, and the only reference I have is Oracle Java Communications API Class Reference here.
...
3
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3answers
680 views
How can I send a signal to a program via external hardware
I am trying to find a piece of hardware that will signal a program to start a timer when it is moving and stop when it stops. The hardware can just be a ball that moves and is connected to the ...
7
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1answer
161 views
Why fewer IRQLs in 64-bit, even though an APIC has more interrupt lines?
As x86 computers shifted from 32-bit to 64-bit, they also shifted from using 8259-style Programmable Interrupt Controllers with 8 interrupt lines. (Or two multiplexed PICs for a total of 15 interrupt ...
36
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14answers
10k views
How have languages influenced CPU design?
We are often told that the hardware doesn't care what language a program is written in as it only sees the compiled binary code, however this is not the whole truth. For example, consider the humble ...
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3answers
541 views
Hardware programming for kids. What is the good way to start?
I am thinking about introducing my 12 year old son to hardware programming. I built a robot with the .NET Micro Framework and while he was fascinated with controlling the robot, his eyes glazed over ...
2
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2answers
184 views
Constructs for wrapping a hardware state machine
I am using a piece of hardware with a well defined C API. The hardware is stateful, with the relevant API calls needing to be in the correct order for the hardware to work properly. The API calls ...
4
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1answer
217 views
Generate analog signal from Windows 7 [closed]
I want to output an analog signal from my Windows 7 computer. The wave will be a combination of about 5 frequencies, with a maximum of 28 MHz. It won't be a problem to generate the wave data with C++, ...
6
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6answers
344 views
Building software frontend for hardware that does not yet exist
Our task is to build a software frontend to control a hardware device that does not yet exist. We should start development about half a year before the first prototype is available, the project is ...
3
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3answers
439 views
Diving into microcontroller programming
I just got a batch of LED matrix modules from Sure Electronics (http://www.sureelectronics.net/goods.php?id=1120) and a driver board (http://www.sureelectronics.net/goods.php?id=972).
I've got it ...
0
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1answer
177 views
Simulate limited hardware for testing [closed]
How can I simulate limited hardware for testing? I've been working with Virtual PC in the past and heard about VMWare solutions, but I am not sure which is the best and which allows me to simulate ...
0
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1answer
223 views
When does it become mandatory to sign up with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)?
My company is looking to add Bluetooth functionality to our hardware, so that we can integrate connectivity to our products with various tablet devices.
To do this, we are looking to purchase an ...
6
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7answers
1k views
USB software protection dongle for Java with an SDK which is cross-platform “for real”. Does it exist?
What I'd like to ask is if anybody knows about an hardware USB-dongle for software protection which offers a very complete out-of-the-box API support for cross-platform Java deployments.
Its SDK ...
6
votes
4answers
594 views
How can a programmer keep up with the hardware world?
I think that it's safe for me to assume that many, if not most, programmers are quite enthusiastic about computers, and even electronics in general. Now, I realize that a programmer should first and ...
8
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4answers
3k views
Increase Performance of VS 2010 by using a SSD [closed]
After searching on the internet for performance improvements when using Visual Studio 2010 with a solid state hard drive, I heard a lot of different opinions.
A lot of people said that there isn't ...
3
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1answer
279 views
Getting in to smart card programming
I have a Compaq nw8440 with a smart card reader that is:
Compatible with ISO 7816 compliant Smart Cards. PC/SC interface support
I have been interested in smart cards and wanted to start playing ...
4
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1answer
676 views
booth multiplication algorithm
Is booth algorithm for multiplication only for multiplying 2 negative numbers (-3 * -4) or one positive and one negative number (-3 * 4) ? Whenever i multiply 2 positive numbers using booth algorithm ...
24
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6answers
3k views
What is the history of why bytes are eight bits?
What where the historical forces at work, the tradeoffs to make, in deciding to use groups of eight bits as the fundamental unit ?
There were machines, once upon a time, using other word sizes, ...
16
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5answers
882 views
How to test software that burns CDs without wasting CDs?
I want to write an application that can be used to burn CDs (music). I know I should test it with real CDs anyway, but I don't want to do this every time I make a small change. But I do want to know ...
23
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8answers
878 views
Is it necessary to understand what's happening at the hardware level to be a good programmer?
I'm a self-taught programmer, just in case this question is answered in CS 101. I've learned and used lots of languages, mostly for my own personal use, but occasionally for professional stuff.
It ...
4
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1answer
154 views
Why there is no ISO hardware query interface?
I'm currently reading a book, chapter about I/O, and one question came to my mind.
Basically, when you program in C/C++, you have an amazing opportunity to optimize for hardware behavior. Using ...
