--On Thursday, January 05, 2012 06:48 -0800 Dave CROCKER
<dhc(_at_)dcrocker(_dot_)net> wrote:
(One can quibble about the difference between algorithm and
program. An algorithm is a component of a program. The
distinction is relevant here because a protocol is typically a
complete mechanism rather than being a component of the
mechanisms. On the other hand, an entire Internet service
might comprise multiple protocols.)
Or an algorithm is an abstraction (usually mathematical as
distinct from some other sort of specification) and the program
(or part of it) is a specific realization of that abstraction.
The difference between that distinction and the one you make is
that we have a long history of correct algorithms and incorrect
or inadequate implementations.
john
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