Complete Rethink
It is time to realise that we have mainly based CPU architectures on scientific computing needs – that is every cycle is precious. But to get that speed we have ignored essential aspects like correctness and security. For general-purpose computing – especially anything connected to the Internet – security must be built in at the lowest levels.
Instead of trying to produce architectures that satisfy both the specifics of scientific computing and general computing the two should be divided. It seems they are irreconcilably different. I have reached this unhappy conclusion (perhaps temporary) after many rounds of debate with C-style programmers who cannot see that security and correctness are of prime importance and the problem with C is it is tuned to a particular way of thinking about CPU architectures.
A complete reevaluation and rethink is needed. It is ambitious and will take a while. But the weak architectures of the past are no longer applicable. Security must be built in at the lowest levels and that includes the hated bounds checks which really are a fundamental of software correctness.
At the lowest levels these can be optimised and built into the electronics as in ASICs or Network Processors (which are more programmable).
Biting the hand that feeds IT
