Polymorphic Software
From Alpha Centauri Wiki
| Polymorphic Software | |
|---|---|
| Requires | Industrial Base, Information Networks |
| Leads to | Adaptive Doctrine, Optical Computers, Advanced Subatomic Theory |
| Ability | Heavy Artillery |
| Improves Probe Team morale | |
Technological advance is an inherently iterative process. One does not simply take sand from the beach and produce a Dataprobe. We use crude tools to fashion better tools, and then our better tools to fashion more precise tools, and so on. Each minor refinement is a step in the process, and all of the steps must be taken.
- -- Chairman Sheng-ji Yang,
- "Looking God in the Eye"
On Earth, only theoretical mathematicians and entertainment software programmers used Polymorphic Software--self-modifying code--to any success. On Planet, the requirements of the budding Industrial Base and Information Networks spur widespread development of neural net applications that rewrite themselves in response to data inputs.
