[erlang-questions] Lets build a stock exchange!

[Joe Armstrong]

This sounds like a great idea.

I have no idea whether it would succeed or fail - if it succeeds then (gulp)

If it fails the interesting thing is not that it failed but WHY it failed.

If things fail and we know why we can do research and fix things. It
is the existence of things
that don't work that stimulates software research and development.

Interesting problems are very difficult to think up - asking the right
question is
often the really difficult bit - once asked lots of brains can try and
find the solution.

Joels suggesting poses a difficult question - great - let's try and answer it.

If Joel can in any way structure the problem then there are loads of
us that can try and
write the individual bits.

Breaking the system is great - a program that breaks the compiler is
far better than 100 that work.

A program that breaks mnesia is far better than 1000 that work.

If this breaks Erlang great - we can fix it and make an even better system.

Breaking stuff is easy - the interesting point is *where* does the system break!

/Joe Armstrong



On Nov 11, 2007 10:10 PM, Torben Hoffmann <torben.lehoff@REDACTED> wrote:
>
>
>
> On Nov 11, 2007 9:43 PM, Christian S <chsu79@REDACTED> wrote:
> > Anyone know a book on technical requirements that brokers put on stock
> > exchanges? Order matching procedures, what information do tax offices
> > want, typical features as in stop-loss rules...
> >
> > Oh, and yes. A stock exchange is cooler than poker.
>
> It may very well be the case that a stock exchange is cooler than poker, but
> I think that the poker server has some interesting aspects that could
> inspire others. E.g., the dynamic allocation of a server to run a new table
> as well as the handling of the messages between the players is similar in
> nature to some of the challenges there is in telecom with regards to group
> calls and where to "host" the call.
>
> Furthermore, I would rather see a well-written book on hard-core Erlang hit
> its window of opportunity than see the whole thing turn into "let's make the
> coolest application that will never run in real life just in order to spice
> up a programming book"-kind of projects.
>
> A well written book with a clear example of usage including discussions
> about where the general ideas can be applied is what I would bet my money
> on. If a potential buyer of the hard-core Erlang book cannot abstract from
> the specific case study used to teach the principles then it is time to
> utter "Joe, We have a problem!" ;-)
>
> Cheers,
> Torben
>
> P.S. My first reaction to the stock exchange idea was "Wow!! Cool!!!", but
> then my analytical side issued a kill to that process for the reason listed
> above.
>
> >
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