the-gnu-project on hardware

[Thien-Thi Nguyen]

had a chance to recently do C-h C-p (testing emacs 21.2 on vms,
which is coming along nicely), and noticed the blurb about secrecy
in hardware, wherein it says there are two ways of coping.  how
about adding a third way of coping: encourage those programmers
capable of mapping algorithms to silicon (or whatever) to design
non-secretive hardware (and make available their designs).  it is
true the actual manufacturing of hardware is oftentimes out of the
financial reach of a single programmer, hence the focus on design.

the motivation behind this suggestion is not so far-fetched IMHO:
to encourage civics education is to encourage understanding of the
role of the environment in sustaining individuals and groups in
society.  what is hardware but the environment for a society of
software?

another thing: i think "there is no try" and the paragraphs that
explain how that phrase "doesn't work" are actually somewhat
inconsistent in the sense that "there is no try" and "just do it"
are actually expressions of the same sentiment.  i guess it all
depends on which idiomatic interpretation of "there is no" is
taken.

anyway, just some thoughts...

thi