Computer Science Canada

wat is backwards compatible
Author:  person [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 7:15 pm ]
Post subject:  wat is backwards compatible
u guys probably think this is a stupid question, but wat does "backwards compatible" mean. thanx in advance

EDIT : please, please help. i need to know for exam
Author:  md [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
backwards compatible means that if you reverse all the instructions in the program it wil runs the same as before.
Author:  MihaiG [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
except for variable declaration in certain progs
Author:  person [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
backwards compatible means that if you reverse all the instructions in the program it wil runs the same as before.


can u elaborate? thanx
Author:  wtd [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:53 pm ]
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Wow... two people who have no idea what they're talking about. Consider a common example of backwards compatibility.

Your desktop computer likely has USB 2.0 ports. Your keyboard and mouse connect via USB 1.1. You still plug them into the same ports. That's backwards compatibility in action.

You add new features, but you retain the ability to use older peripherals or software with the new stuff.
Author:  Hikaru79 [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
person wrote:
Quote:
backwards compatible means that if you reverse all the instructions in the program it wil runs the same as before.


can u elaborate? thanx


Person, they are messing with your mind. Either that or they truly have NO clue what they're talking about, but I'm tending more towards the first choice. That definition is COMPLETELY off-the-wall Razz

What it really means, and I'll provide examples, is that the new version will work with older versions. wtd gave an example of HARDWARE backwards compatibility, but you might have meant software so I'll give an example of that too.

Sun's Java compiler has gone through many versions. They're on 1.5.1 stable now. However, The 1.5.1 can STILL compile programs written for 1.4.2, and under. It hasn't suddenly lost the ability to communicate (aka be compatible) with older versions (aka backwards).

That's it in a nutshell =) If you gave a specific example you were wondering about, we could probably be more detailed.

As for Cornflake... be nice Wink They can't always tell when you're joking
Author:  md [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hikaru79 wrote:
person wrote:
Quote:
backwards compatible means that if you reverse all the instructions in the program it wil runs the same as before.


can u elaborate? thanx


As for Cornflake... be nice Wink They can't always tell when you're joking


What? I just couldn't resist temptation Razz
Author:  TheZsterBunny [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Think nintendo gameboys.

The original game boy ran only original gameboy games.
The gameboy pocket ran gameboy pocket and original gameboy games.
The gameboy color ran gameboy color, gameboy pocket, and gameboy games.

The gameboy advance...
The gameboy advance SP

...and the nintendo DS. which doesn't count.

-Z
Author:  wtd [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:39 pm ]
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TheZsterBunny wrote:
...and the nintendo DS. which doesn't count.


Why not? Doesn't it play GBA games too?
Author:  Dan [ Sat Jan 29, 2005 11:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
TheZsterBunny wrote:
Think nintendo gameboys.

The original game boy ran only original gameboy games.
The gameboy pocket ran gameboy pocket and original gameboy games.
The gameboy color ran gameboy color, gameboy pocket, and gameboy games.

The gameboy advance...
The gameboy advance SP

...and the nintendo DS. which doesn't count.

-Z


LOL, thats excatly the example i was thinking of.....tho i did not whont to post it Razz
Author:  Neo [ Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: wat is backwards compatible
person wrote:

EDIT : please, please help. i need to know for exam


I would write down cornflakes definition, all the rest are wrong!
Author:  Amailer [ Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:50 am ]
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wow, hm people tend to extend topics more then its needed.
WTDs example was the best and explained what was needed to be explained, what more is needed Rolling Eyes
Author:  Paul [ Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:57 am ]
Post subject: 
Give him what he wants:
code:

backward compatibility



<jargon> Able to share data or commands with older versions of
itself, or sometimes other older systems, particularly systems
it intends to supplant. Sometimes backward compatibility is
limited to being able to read old data but does not extend to
being able to write data in a format that can be read by old
versions.

For example, WordPerfect 6.0 can read WordPerfect 5.1 files,
so it is backward compatible. It can be said that Perl is
backward compatible with awk, because Perl was (among other
things) intended to replace awk, and can, with a converter,
run awk programs.

:


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