[XCSSA] Christmas Lights Display

[X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio]

On Dec 29, 2009, at 10:44 AM, X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio wrote:

>> -----Original Message-----
> [...]
>>> I found this guy's display interesting:
>>>      http://www.youtube.com/user/CSTRANG70#p/a/f/0/rmgf60CI_ks
>>> 
>>> Although those pauses are very obviously illustrating the weaknesses of
>>> the Windows scheduler.  Do they not have this software that will run on a
>>> Linux/UN*(X based OS yet?  Seems like it would run much smoother.
> 
> On Monday 28 December 2009, [Charles] of San Antonio wrote:
> [...]
>> What pauses are you referring to?  The show runs on a custom scheduling
>> program written by the same people that developed the sequencing program. 
>> The scheduler does not use the windows scheduler. 
> 
> Ahh.. not the OS job scheduler.. I'm talking about process scheduler in the NT 
> kernel.  The scheduler is what gives each PID CPU execution time.  The 
> Windows PID scheduler has always been notoriously non-real-time.  You could 
> (traditionally anyway) DoS a server simply my formatting a floppy disk. :) 
> This lack of real-time-ness is one of the reasons windows has traditionally 
> not be used in any medical/health-care equipment (like life support 
> systems)... where a "blue screen" could flat-line someone.. ;)
> 

I dunno man, you don't have me convinced :) At least for single applications you can tune Windows to be quite responsive. Though the problems on my Mac do not relate to scheduling, so far I have been able to obtain the lowest audio latency on my Windows box and VSTs work like a champ. You need fairly accurate timing for music stuff. Now, if you have multiple apps running at the same priority, then Windows' scheduler might start to show it's lameness. Otherwise, I haven't reproduced the case you describe :)

Tim