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Takeaways:

• A new version (v0.2) of Logic for Programmers is now released, featuring epub support, content on constraint solving, and formal specification.

• The markup language reStructured Text (rST) is highlighted as being more powerful than markdown, offering better extensibility, particularly for complex documents and transformations.

• Key benefits of rST over markdown include support for directives, post-processing transformations, and improved linking capabilities within documentation.

Links:

• Logic for Programmers

• Sphinx Documentation

• Asciidoctor

• MyST Documentation

• Typst Documentation

• Pandoc Manual

• Hillel Wayne’s main site* Past public newsletters* Patreon support

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Takeaways:

• Hillel’s Miracle Tonic claims to enhance coding speed by100% and reduce bugs significantly.

• Evidence includes surveys indicating68% of developers find their code “awesome” after using the tonic, alongside a clinical trial showing10% better performance.

• The tonic is said to be ineffective in toxic work environments and should not be consumed by individuals allergic to peanuts.

Links:

• Archive of past newsletters

• Main site

• Join Patreon

The deadline for the logic book is approaching, with expected early access available by the end of this week or early next week. An intriguing problem was found on Math Stack Exchange: given a blank document with a single “a,” determine the minimum steps using “select all,” “copy,” and “paste” to achieve at least100,000 a’s. Two answers focus on analytic solutions, while the last provides a C++ program using breadth-first search (BFS) to find the shortest solution. Additionally, an alternative solution using Picat for planning optimizes the standard method by combining select and copy operations into one.

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Takeaways:

• Logic book expected for early access soon.

• Minimum steps of operations problem to reach100,000 a’s using BFS and planning.

• Optimized solution in Picat combining select and copy operations.

Links:

• Logic book update

• Math Stack Exchange problem

• Picat language

When dealing with intervals, the operation ( x^2 ) (x squared) is not always equivalent to ( x times x ) (x multiplied by x). This discrepancy arises because intervals represent values with inherent uncertainties. A typical example involves measurements with possible errors, leading to intervals such as (6.9,7.1) for a given length. Interval arithmetic, which operates on ranges rather than precise values, avoids overestimation pitfalls but can lead to complex outcome ranges.Key distinctions include: - Scalar Operations: Applied to both ends of intervals. - Interval Operations: Utilize minimal values for minimum outcomes and maximum values for maximum outcomes. - Squaring Intervals: Unlike multiplication of intervals, which involves separate elements, squaring considers the same value twice, impacting the interval’s resulting range.

This nuanced arithmetic approach affects precise calculations, such as in floating-point computations, where intervals can more accurately represent bounds compared to single floating-point numbers, though it can lead to overestimation issues.

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Takeaways:

• Interval arithmetic differs from conventional multiplication and introduces complexities not present in traditional arithmetic.

• ( x^2 ) within an interval (a, b) results in a different range than ( x times x ) due to the way values are selected.

• Interval arithmetic is crucial in fields requiring higher precision and accommodating uncertainties, like manufacturing tolerances.

Links:

• Frink Interval Arithmetic

• William Kahan’s Essay

• John Gustafson’s Universal Numbers

The past week involved recuperation and significant progress on “Logic for Programmers” with the aim to meet a mid-July deadline, incentivized by a $1000 toxx clause.

Current Status:¶ ↑

1. Word Count and Structure:

2. Total:14k words (goal:20k for pre-alpha draft)

3. "Basics" (Propositional Logic, Predicate Logic, Set Theory):4k words - Additional Sections (Introduction, Appendixes, Preliminary Exercises):1500 words - Remaining content: "Techniques"

4. Technique Organization: Feedback integrated from Saul Pwanson to structure techniques in a three-part format:

5. Common programming situation - Logic application - Advanced application enabled by logic3. Main Techniques Covered:

6. Testing → Specifications of functions → Property testing - Functional correctness → Contracts - Data invariants → Stronger database constraints - Case coverage → Decision tables - Conditionals → Simplifying conditionals4. Additional Topics Under Consideration:

7. Constraint solving, logic programming, formal verification, formal specification - Potential material: state invariants, modeling requirements - Seeking further applications where logic improves functionality5. Future Work:

8. Enhancing sections with more detail, examples, and exercises - Experimented with special exercise directive for different formats (HTML/PDF)

9. Development Timeline:

10. Alpha release expected by July, with the book approximately40% complete - Post-feedback: aim for80% completion before focusing on typesetting and cover design7. Distribution Details:

11. Leanpub page created for early logistical planning.

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Takeaways:

• “Logic for Programmers” is progressing well, targeting a pre-alpha draft of20k words by mid-July.

• Techniques are structured to link programming scenarios with logic applications and advanced logic-enabled tasks.

• Seeking additional logical applications that directly enhance programming capabilities.

Links:

• Logic for Programmers - Init

• Logic for Programmers - Update

• Sample on Patreon

• Leanpub Page

• Saul Pwanson’s Feedback

• Newsletter Archive