Motion 4: revised wording
P1788 members
In view of the misunderstandings that my current wording of Motion 4
was generating, I asked Dan Zuras if he would help me re-word it and
the rationale. He has done so. I accept it as a friendly amendment,
and hereby offer the revised version for your consideration.
John Pryce
===Motion P1788/M0004.01_Keep_to_754===
Proposer: John Pryce
Seconder: Dan Zuras
===Motion text===
In our work on 1788 we will limit the scope of our consideration to
those systems which present an environment that conforms to
754-2008. This limitation is done without prejudice and for the
purpose of K.I.S.S. (Keeping It Simple Stupid) to simplify our
discussions and specifications.
===Rationale===
This motion is offered in the spirit of simplifying our task. We are
all familiar with the characteristics of 754 environments. Confining
our thoughts and discussions to such systems will give us common
ground for understanding. And 1788 specifications couched in terms
of that understanding can be made simpler than without it. Issues of
things like the role and use of NaNs and infinity, signed zeros,
transcendental functions, support of basic formats, and the like are
all details that are not part of this motion. But all of those
details are made easier to discuss in the future if this motion passes.
The issue of whether or not a non-754-conforming system may yet
conform to 1788 is also not part of this motion. That will depend on
all the other normative statements we make in the future. We will
almost certainly not use all the specifications of 754 to specify
1788. But it is expected that most such systems will not conform.
The Cell chip may be an exception.
Passing this motion saves us time and misunderstanding in the
future. That's what this motion is about.