On Mon, Jun 23, 2003 at 07:50:31AM -0700, James Newton, webhost wrote:
> source= http://www.piclist.com/postbot.asp?id=piclist\2003\06\20\201728a
>
> Let me see if I understand:
>
> This program contains:
> a) a small language in which you can define an algorithm
> b) a program to generate random inputs for that algorithm and record the
> result
> c) a PIC simulator
> d) a program to generate random sequences of PIC instructions

Not random, the sequences are tried exaustively. First, all one inst.
sequences, then all 2 ins. seq., etc.

> And the program then tries different sequences until it hits upon one that
> produces the expected outputs when given the inputs?

Yes.

> So it generates code in the same way that the old joke about the room full
> of monkeys randomly typing will eventually produce the works of Shakespeare?
>
> And this actually works? I must not be understanding something.

Yes, it works for small code fragments. You can search thru all 6
instruction sequences in about an hour in modern computers, 7 inst.
sequences in a couple of days, 8 inst. sequences in a couple of
months, etc. If fewer instructions are tried (it's configurable),
you can go up thru 9 instruction sequences in a reasonable amount
of time.

Test the examples, and give coments!

    Daniel.

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