Computing 101 with Rong Chen
In a previous episode of CRYPTO 101, we had the chance to hear from Rong Chen, founder of Elastos. At the conclusion of that interview, Mr. Chen mentioned something that resonated with the team and has since garnered plenty of listener interest. Mr. Chen said that people need to use common sense, instead of ‘blockchain 101’, people really need to some ‘computer 101’.
So in this new episode of the podcast we got Mr. Chen back to begin to give us the surface scratchings of computer 101. The episode is well worth the listen for anyone interested in some of the basics of computing — it really helps shed some light on how more complex things like the blockchain work and perhaps more importantly — what they can and cannot do. The podcast covers a lot that can't be covered in a short blog, but here are some basics to get you started.
“People are constantly confusing two basic things 1) what is a blockchain and 2) what can it do?”— Rong Chen —
What is a computer?
At a basic level, all a computer needs to be is a central processing unit (CPU) and an execution unit (most commonly an operating system). Alan Turing a computer was simply an infinitely long tape with a finite automata — which sounds complex but this is essentially a feed of information and someone or something to execute on that information. For a personal computer you need some sort of permanent storage (Memory and hard drive) and an executor like an operating system.
What is an operating system?
The operating system is software that executes basic computing functions it is the way that allows logical interaction between you and your computer. Windows, MacOS and Linux are examples of operating systems. Just as iOS and Android are operating systems for mobile devices, which are also computers.
What is a GPU?
A GPU is a highly specialised CPU that can operate at higher efficiency for specific tasks like rendering graphics or hashing. The downside is they are not flexible to operate multiple tasks, but the upside is they are highly efficient for singular tasks.
What is Amdahl's Law?
Amdahl’s law is both more elegant and more complex than I can summarise here. It is worth checking out the wiki. Essentially it equates to a law of efficiency that helps you decide how much time it will take to perform computing tasks depending on the number of processing units you have working on the tasks. The relationship is often not linear as we might expect.
What is parallel computing?
Parallel computing is where large computing tasks can be divided into smaller tasks and delegated to different CPUs. This is what happens in multi-core computers — which today includes almost every consumer laptop, desktop or smartphone. Parallel computing speeds up processing times based on Amdahl’s law.
What is the blockchain?
The blockchain, contrary to what many people may think, is not an example of parallel computing. The clue is in the phrase ‘decentralised ledger’. Parallel computing has a degree of decentralisation, as multiple units are working on different but related problems together in real time but the blockchain is the decentralisation of the processing of the exact same problem at every single point. There is only one ledger that is being contributed to only one step at a time and the task of validating that step is the task that is decentralised.
What is the difference between a computer and the blockchain?
Blockchain is designed for trust not speed. Blockchain does not provide computation services. Chen used a good example of a classroom of 30 children being asked to work on 30 separate but comparable tasks. They will finish at a reasonably fast time and have 30 different outputs (answers). That is what parallel computing does. However, a blockchain is like those same 30 children all doing the exact same task. When one or more children have finished the task, the entire class can compare and validate their results. Blockchain is designed for trust not speed. Blockchain does not provide computation services.
“A lot of people wish that a blockchain computer - a world computer - can be as fast as traditional computing. That is wishful thinking. Blockchain computing does not use distributed computing or uses duplicate computing.”— Rong Chen —
At the end of the episode, Mr. Chen left us with another quote I am sure we will all be contemplating for a while.
“The blockchain has invented enough. It’s time to let it mature”— Rong Chen —
As I said in the beginning, the episode of the podcast is well worth the listen for a deeper dive into these topics and more. Check it out!
Written by: Glen Veitch