Lamport’s bakery algorithm

August 14th, 2008 at 1:31 · Filed Under Blogging, Computing · 12 Comments 

The comment(s) in one of my earlier post here inspired my long sleeping passion in distributed computing. After reading about Leslie Lamport and some of his papers, I find his stories fascinating and one of his paper about bakery algorithm is most compelling and has profound effect on me. He has also done many great works such as the Paxos algorithm.

Leslie invented bakery algorithm but he insisted that he discovered it. He wrote

For a couple of years after my discovery of the bakery algorithm, everything I learned about concurrency came from studying it. … The bakery algorithm marked the beginning of my study of distributed algorithms.

He enthralls me with his attitude towards knowledge and learning. His discovery was the beginning of his study of distributed algorithms.

How many people find a solution to a problem, then continue to study the solution for years and learning from it?

Leslie gives me a new inspiration and a whole new perspective towards learning. After reading his paper about bakery algorithm, I have a clearer inspiration in distributed computing. If I choose to specialize in this field, I need more of such inspiration coming to burn a bigger fire.

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Distributed computing

August 13th, 2008 at 12:30 · Filed Under At Home, Blogging, Computing, Days in My Life, Education · Comment 

I missed an opportunity to work on a distributed computing project many years ago. I was too engrossed in front-end dealing with GUI and stuff. Now, when I read more about Lamport’s works, distributed computing is becoming more interesting. I am also becoming more obsessed in reading distributed computing. Without me realizing at first, I have become Lamport’s fan.

I read his papers with great interest and the desire to read more of his works is becoming stronger in me. I have never had such feeling before. I will continue to find inspiration in his works.

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