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That doesn't help, because at the end of the day we are running on a specific os and machine. And given that machine, there exists a file of size X which it is not possible to compress because of the pigeon hole principle.

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Right, but if we find that we do have a file which is impossible to compress, we could just switch to a system where it does work. There may even be operating system variables you could change which would change the output of the program. The guy asked: "Does it have to run on any machine or is just one machine ok." But did not get an answer.

I agree, for any specific machine configuration there exist non-compressible files, but I don't think we are so restricted. *Edit, it might also be possible to include in your compression algorithm the logic: change the OS into a state where this file is compressible.

Obviously you can create a machine which already has the original file on it, and have your "decompressor" simply print out that file.

I think that it was an unwritten requirement that it would work on Goldman's computer, and I think even people who say that Patrick's technique was legit would agree with that.

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