computers, magic and complex logic

[frantyck at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 30289

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Dave Hardenbrook <DaveH47 at m...> wrote:
> Tuesday, November 20, 2001, 9:47:04 PM, frantyck at y... wrote:
> fyc> Hullo. Has anyone considered the possible parallels between 
the> fyc> design of complex spells and enchantments and computer 
programming?
> 
> There definitely must be programming-like logic for magical things!
> Look at the Goblet of Fire... A lot of logic is involved in 
screening> the champions -- First it has to check that the candidate 
is from a> legitimate school, then the candidate has to be of age, 
etc.  And the> "code" is modified by master "programmer" Barty 
Crouch, Jr.  If the> incantations for the Goblet was translated to 
Java, it might look> something like this...

[snip a whole lot of hot java]


I was really *hoping* someone computeristically-inclined would be 
tempted to do a breakdown of the logical structure of a problem like 
that of the Goblet of Fire. Thanks a million (Galleons), Dave! I'll 
be examining it closely.

How would you rewrite that in magical terms? Complex magic must be 
some combination of simple, or building-block, spells, like amino 
acids to complex proteins or, as Dave would have it, simple computer 
operations to complex processes. This must make the task of creating 
spells for changing applications easier.

I wonder what the Fundamental Spells would be, and also how someone 
could "discover" rather than "invent" a spell (isn't that how 
Lupin's potion is described in PoA, "recently discovered?").

Pleasantly confused,

Rrishi