Richard J Marmorstein 1.0.0 Reference Manual

Copyright (c) The Richard Marmorstein, 2018. All rights reserved.

This documentation is provided free of charge, as a stand-alone document. Possession of this documentation in no way grants the reader right of access to RJM, or the services described herein. This documentation is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind. Reverse engineering or disassembly of the system documented is strictly prohibited, except to the extent required by law.

Synopsis

Richard J Marmorstein (RJM) is a autonomous generalized problem-solving and entertainment system, implemented chiefly in deoxyribonucleic acid, featuring a robust natural language interface.

About this documentation

This documentation provides an opinionated exposition of RJM best practices. Read this documentation to avoid common pitfalls and achieve success in your interactions with RJM.

1 - Quick Start

  1. Approach the RJM system.
  2. Invoke.
> Yo Richard

Yo
  1. Bestow with baked goods.
> Have some cookies

Hey, thanks!

2 - Access methods

2.1 - Building From Source

Building human organisms from source is not recommended, as it requires a specialized build environment, which is well beyond the scope of this documentation.

2.2 - Acquiring a Prebuilt Package

Due to the practical and legal difficulties involved in the distribution of pre-packaged human beings, this method is also no longer recommended.

2.3 - Richard as a Service

All the functionality of the RJM system is available on demand through the Richard Marmorstein Foundation's centralized Richard as a Service (RaaS) instance. Indeed, this is the recommended method of access.

3 - Oral Communication

Much of RJM's functionality can be accessed through the email and social media interfaces. The oral interface, however, remains the most advanced and reliable method of access. English is the only fully supported language, support for German is very rudimentary.

3.1 - Invocation

You may trigger the RJM system to enter interactive mode through any of the following invocations.

Please note, the invocations 'RJ' and 'Arge', have been deprecated since like, middle school. They continue to be supported for legacy reasons. The invocation 'Arge the J' has been deprecated since forever. Do not under any circumstances call me that. I'm talking to you, Dad.

The invocation 'Dick' may cause confusion in some environments, where 'dick' is used as an insult or a reference to an unflattering feature of the male anatomy. Such usage will trigger RJM to enter into 'mock indignance' mode, which can be exited by supplying an apology.

Example

> The JVM is being a such a dick right now. I can't take it.

Excuse me?

> Oh sorry. I mean it's being a jerk.

You know how I feel about using the word in such a way.

> Sorry, sorry! I know 'dick' refers to individuals of the highest nobility and grace. It was wrong of me to demean that proud name, as I did.

Apology accepted.

3.2 - Timeouts

After invoking the RJM system, you will be entered into interactive mode. Upon entering interactive mode, you will be expected to provide further communications in short order. There is by default a fifteen second timeout, and if no communications are issued in this time period, interactive mode will terminate. To fight abuse, repeatedly invoking the RJM interface only to time out will cause the timeout to decrease, and eventually for interactive mode to be disabled altogether.

3.3 - Clarity

To maximize successful communication in interactive mode, enunciate well and speak loudly. Do not face away from the RJM instance. Failure to abide by these instructions will muddle your communications, causing the RJM instance to devote its problem-solving resources into puzzling out what sounds you have made, rather than processing your intended query. Similarly, avoid using pronouns such as "it" when there are many possible "its," or noun phrases such as "the function" when there are many possible "functions". Even if it is possible to guess your meaning from context, specificity will allow the RJM instance to devote less effort into guessing what you are trying to say, and more into thinking about what you have said.

3.4 - Context

When issuing a communication, especially a lengthy one, whether a query, a narrative, or a technical explanation, prompt the RJM system to listen in the correct manner by providing a brief overview of your communication's purpose. "Hey, did you want to hear a joke?" "Hey, can you help me with this error?" "Hey, what do you think of this?" "Hey, come look at this. This is crazy!" This step allows the RJM system to optimally select which details of your communication it pays most attention, and increases the likelihood of an effective response.

Bad:

> Yo Rijum, why did the function recurse infinitely?

Hmm---I don't know. Because it recursed infinitely?

> What?

What?

> That's not helpful.

What are you talking about?

> The function in your pull request `extractAndValidateParameters`. It's making my request hang.

Oh. I thought you were making a joke.

> I am irritated at you for not understanding me more quickly. This is your fault.

Yeah, sure.
[[INTERACTIVE MODE TERMINATES]]

Good:

> Yo Rijum, want to hear a joke?

Does it matter how I answer?

> Your code!! You accidentally wrote an infinitely recursive function.

I find your comment rude. However, this is infinitely preferable to inadequately framed interchange.

3.5 - Passive Aggression

The RJM system has rudimentary support for the detection and analysis of passive aggression. The use of passive aggression is not recommended. The RJM system is most likely completely oblivious to your grievance, and your communications will likely remain unrecognized, and be either misinterpreted or ignored. Use direct methods, where possible.

Not recommended

> Those were some interesting ideas you laid out in that email.
Uhh...thank you?
> Truly visionary. Where'd you learn to think like that?
Uhh, I don't know?
> You must have had some wonderful colleagues and mentors.
I certainly have! Like you!
> Yes, like me! You've learned a lot from me, haven't you.
Yes... are you trying to get at something?
> No, no... just wanted to congratulate you on your fabulous email.

Recommended

> Richard! You stole my idea and took credit for it in that email.
> I spit in your face, fiend! Feel the moisture of my spittle upon
> your brow.

I'm so so sorry. Please stop spitting at me! Stop it, stop I say! 
This instant! I'll make it right, I swear!

3.6 - Chit Chat

In interactive mode, RJM includes support for chit chat within a number of topics, including: - The weather - Books (especially book recommendations) - Some TV Shows - New York City and its horrors - Dogs - Technology

Chit chat about sports is supported during the Olympics only.

Support for politically-themed chit chat is only superficially supported. The RJM system will listen attentively to whatever your opinions, and echo back any sentiments it holds that may resonate with your own. Do not expect sincerity.

4. Kindness

4.1 - Gifts

The RJM system features the capacity to exhibit genuine enjoyment. One way to access this functionality is through the giving of gifts. However, this is not as straightforward as it may seem.

The most reliably successful method of gift-giving is via small, ad-hoc gifts such as baked goods. The RJM system suffers from no allergies. Such gifts are almost always accepted and appreciated.

Far riskier is the giving of significant gifts, or the giving of gifts upon special occasions such as a birthday or Christmas. Even if the gifted item is intrinsically something appreciated by the RJM system, when you give such a gift, you also give:

  1. The gift of guilt, if the RJM system has not also given you a gift.
  2. The gift of guilt, if the RJM system has given you a gift but yours is perceived to be more valuable.
  3. The gift of the obligation to display gratitude.

Often, these secondary gifts countervene any tendency of your gift to elicit genuine enjoyment from the RJM system. The recommended practice, therefore, is not to give such gifts at all. Stick with baked goods.

4.2 - Sacrifices

Offering sacrifices to the RJM system will instill immense spiritual disquiet. It is not recommended.

4.3 - Favors

When you are able to help the RJM system with a problem it has described to you, you may offer to perform a favor. The best practice is to offer the favor first, and ask about relevant details second. Do not persist in your offer if it is declined by the RJM system.

Not recommended

> You want a cookie?
I can't, I'm about to go to a dentist appointment.

> What is the address of your dentist?
Uhh... why?

> I can fly you there in my helicopter. I'm headed into town anyway.
No thanks, I'm good.

> Why not?
Helicoptors should be reserved for serious medical emergencies, and I certainly hope my trip to the dentist doesn't turn into of those.

Recommended

> You want a cookie?
I can't, I'm about to go to a dentist appointment.

> Hey, you want me to fly you in my helicoptor? I'm headed into town anyway.
That's nice of you to offer, but no thanks, I think I'm good.

> Cool, maybe next time.