drewcomputer
drewcomputer t1_iy0iboq wrote
Reply to comment by StarCyst in TIL The worlds first computer virus was developed by Jon Von Neumann in 1949. It served as proof that computer programs are capable of replicating themselves by s24569
Theoretical CS isn’t like, speculating what’s possible in the sci fi future. It‘s making rigorous mathematical proofs about algorithms.
And this whole thread was about whether OP read the article lol. The article plainly says what OP said, and computer science textbooks agree. If you want to have a philosophical debate about if a program has to run on silicon in order to exist, go ahead, but know that the experts decided that one long ago and side with OP.
drewcomputer t1_iy0fw33 wrote
Reply to comment by StarCyst in TIL The worlds first computer virus was developed by Jon Von Neumann in 1949. It served as proof that computer programs are capable of replicating themselves by s24569
For a long time algorithms were developed and proven on paper before running on computers. That’s how Ada Lovelace made the first software, and how Alan Turing did most of his work. Von Neuman did that with viruses, and computer scientists say he made the first virus.
You can develop a sorting algorithm and mathematically prove that it works, and how fast entirely on pen and paper. That’s how a lot of computer science has always been done.
drewcomputer t1_iy0d0na wrote
Reply to comment by pupsinpajamas in TIL The worlds first computer virus was developed by Jon Von Neumann in 1949. It served as proof that computer programs are capable of replicating themselves by s24569
Did you guys read the article? It says
> Von Neumann's design for a self-reproducing computer program is considered the world's first computer virus, and he is considered to be the theoretical "father" of computer virology.
and it cites a CS textbook on viruses
drewcomputer t1_iy0c644 wrote
Reply to comment by topcat5 in TIL The worlds first computer virus was developed by Jon Von Neumann in 1949. It served as proof that computer programs are capable of replicating themselves by s24569
Not sure you understand how computer science works. Von Neumann didn’t postulate the existence of self-replicating programs, he proved their existence by making one. The fact that it wasn’t running on the computers of the time doesn’t change that algorithmic result.
It also says in the article linked,
> Von Neumann's design for a self-reproducing computer program is considered the world's first computer virus, and he is considered to be the theoretical "father" of computer virology.
And the source is a CS textbook on viruses.
Sorry to be harsh but your attempt at correcting OP is a Dunning-Kruger thing IMO.
drewcomputer t1_iy13pi1 wrote
Reply to comment by [deleted] in TIL The worlds first computer virus was developed by Jon Von Neumann in 1949. It served as proof that computer programs are capable of replicating themselves by s24569
You can absolutey write a program or algorithm without running it on a computer. Turing published Turing machines long before they ran on silicon, and Ada Lovelace wrote software for a computer that wasn’t built in her lifetime. The first virus implemented in Assembly directly cited and built out Von Neumann’s work.