53 lines
1.5 KiB
Markdown
53 lines
1.5 KiB
Markdown
# Portability and Cross-Platform Execution
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Status: pedagogical
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Companion spec: [`../specs/11-portability-and-cross-platform-execution.md`](../specs/11-portability-and-cross-platform-execution.md)
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PROMETEU treats portability as an architectural property of the machine, not as an after-the-fact adaptation.
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## Core Idea
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The main point is simple:
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- the machine defines the semantics;
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- the host performs presentation and physical integration;
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- the cartridge does not negotiate behavior with the operating system.
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That avoids the common notion that each platform has "its own version" of game logic.
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## Why This Matters
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When time, memory, input, audio, and graphics are defined by the machine, the following become easier:
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- deterministic replay;
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- reproducible certification;
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- execution on desktop, mobile, and DIY hardware;
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- clean separation between semantics and adaptation.
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## Practical Separation
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A useful way to think about it is:
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- the cartridge carries program and assets;
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- the VM/runtime executes the logic;
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- the host shows pixels, delivers audio, and collects physical input;
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- the host does not redefine the game's rules.
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## What Portability Does Not Mean
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PROMETEU does not promise:
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- the same physical latency;
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- the same power consumption;
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- the same raw host throughput.
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It promises logical consistency. That is what matters to the machine's identity.
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## Teaching Value
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This model helps teach:
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- the difference between logic and presentation;
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- why modern engines often lose determinism;
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- how to design portable software without relying on luck.
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