Thursday 21 December 2006

Subversive Inferno

Now that Inferno's source code is available via Subversion on Googlecode, with incremental updates there (if it all works), I thought I'd try to keep a related blog. Fortunately it is Christmas, and I am on holiday. Meanwhile, Caerwyn's Inferno Programmer's Notebook (http://www.caerwyn.com/ipn/) sets a sufficiently high standard to satisfy readers (and put me off even trying) until the New Year. Still, why "Subversive" in the title of my initial post?
  1. Sub*vert" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. /Subverted/; p. pr. & vb. n. /Subverting/.] [L. subvertere, subversum; sub under + vertere to turn: cf. F. subvertir. See /Verse/.]
1. To overturn from the foundation; to overthrow; to ruin utterly.
These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength,
With which he yoketh your rebellious necks,
Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns. Shak.
This would subvert the principles of all knowledge. Locke.
2. To pervert, as the mind, and turn it from the truth; to corrupt; to confound. 2 Tim. iii. 14. Syn. -- To overturn; overthrow; destroy; invert; reverse; extinguish.

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It seems to have been a poor choice: ruination, corruption, turning from the truth etc. are certainly not the targets. Changing something at the foundation is probably closer to the real aim, and given the vast amount of existing code and systems, aiming to displace them is not realistic, but turning them all into run-time platforms for Inferno is both practical and sound.