Bay 12 Games Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Author Topic: How does a 64-bit compiler break a computer?  (Read 959 times)

G-Flex

  • Bay Watcher
    • View Profile
How does a 64-bit compiler break a computer?
« on: June 17, 2016, 11:07:19 pm »

See: http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=158512.msg7028117#msg7028117

I'm honestly so curious about this that I came back just to ask this question.

How does software like a compiler manage to actually destroy a computer? I mean, I'm just a lowly IT peon but I'm having a lot of trouble seeing how it's possible. There's got to be a story here.
Logged
There are 2 types of people in the world: Those who understand hexadecimal, and those who don't.
Visit the #Bay12Games IRC channel on NewNet
== Human Renovation: My Deus Ex mod/fan patch (v1.30, updated 5/31/2012) ==

Max™

  • Bay Watcher
  • [CULL:SQUARE]
    • View Profile
Re: How does a 64-bit compiler break a computer?
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2016, 05:53:58 am »

Playing df and no other games managed over time to finally cause my formerly understressed GT440 to kick the bucket so I switched to the integrated ivy bridge GPU. It worked fine since, of course, df isn't doing much with the GPU, but nonetheless over time I started to get weird graphical errors and spikes of heating regardless of game state, all of which immediately went away when I get a new discrete card.

If df can help kill a built-in GPU which it barely uses, tossing in a much more demanding bit of software could easily provide stresses that wind up making something keel over.

Bear in mind, said keeling over would probably have happened sooner than later anyways, so it's more likely a matter of unfortunate coincidence than exclusive causation, but it isn't much of a stretch.
Logged

milo christiansen

  • Bay Watcher
  • Something generic here
    • View Profile
Re: How does a 64-bit compiler break a computer?
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2016, 11:09:20 am »

Maybe it added an HCF instruction? :P

(HCF is a joke assembly language mnemonic meaning Halt and Catch Fire)
Logged
Rubble 8 - The most powerful modding suite in existence!
After all, coke is for furnaces, not for snorting.
You're not true dwarven royalty unless you own the complete 'Signature Collection' baby-bone bedroom set from NOKEAS

Max™

  • Bay Watcher
  • [CULL:SQUARE]
    • View Profile
Re: How does a 64-bit compiler break a computer?
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2016, 04:20:00 pm »

Code: [Select]
if user.Primary.name="Toady One" then
      if compiler.bitness>32 do
         self.destruct.countdown==null
         print "I'm sorry, Tarn, I'm afraid I can't let you do that."
      elseif compiler.bitness==32 then
         print "Would you like me to sing you a song, Tarn?"
      end
end
Logged

Bumber

  • Bay Watcher
  • REMOVE KOBOLD
    • View Profile
Re: How does a 64-bit compiler break a computer?
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2016, 04:22:13 pm »

I recently broke my Lubuntu (on VirtualBox) when trying to install a newer Clang compiler. I fell off the Lubuntu update wagon (which you can't get back on) after a long period of not using it, and one of the required libraries must have been incompatible. I wasn't able to log-in again after that, so I ended up installing a fresh copy of the OS. I barely managed to finish my final assignment in time.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2016, 04:23:46 pm by Bumber »
Logged
Reading his name would trigger it. Thinking of him would trigger it. No other circumstances would trigger it- it was strictly related to the concept of Bill Clinton entering the conscious mind.

THE xTROLL FUR SOCKx RUSE WAS A........... DISTACTION        the carp HAVE the wagon

A wizard has turned you into a wagon. This was inevitable (Y/y)?