There's a big difference between "System and apparatus to display 'hello world'", and say an encryption algorithm.
Yes it's a blurred line, but I'd say most programs are todo lists, rather than complex algorithms of scientific merit.
For example, say the software that runs facebook - that's pretty much going to be 'grunt work' - lots of building blocks, shoved together, to make something work.
But a compression algorithm, has more of a basis in mathematics entropy etc.
My sincere apologies if this once again disappoints your view of what comments on hacker news should be.
(I have several software patents, but I firmly believe they are a terrible idea).
Yes it's a blurred line, but I'd say most programs are todo lists, rather than complex algorithms of scientific merit.
For example, say the software that runs facebook - that's pretty much going to be 'grunt work' - lots of building blocks, shoved together, to make something work.
But a compression algorithm, has more of a basis in mathematics entropy etc.
My sincere apologies if this once again disappoints your view of what comments on hacker news should be.
(I have several software patents, but I firmly believe they are a terrible idea).