If you look at source code strictly as a series of symbols organized
into a syntax it is math. But as the OP points out, there is more to source code
than this. There is a whole semantical dimension which connects to the problem
space...
Much of this semantics. is not math. Once the source code is
brought into executable form, all these non math aspects are gone. All that is
left is the math.
The whole semantical dimension and the problem
space are interpretants. The source code has only got such stuff in it when
observed by a programmer skilled in the art of using that programming language.
As you say, 'If you look at source code'. When you don't look at it, the
semantical dimensions and the problem space disappear as all interpretants in
source code, must.
Many good programmers have commented in Groklaw that
there is much more to programs than just math algorithms. As you say, 'yes there
is': there is a whole semantical dimension which connects to the problem space.
As I say 'no there isn't: there is no such thing in a source code file: it's all
algorithms. It's the abstract idea/ expression dichotomy.---
Regards
Ian Al
Software Patents: It's the disclosed functions in the patent, stupid! [ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
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