Reconfigurable computing array without chassis

A computing device adapted for connecting to one or more external devices, comprising:

• one or more external connectors each adapted for connecting to the external device and including one or more data input/output (I/O) lines, each external connector including circuitry for generating or detecting a disconnect signal prior to the disconnection of the external connector from an external device;
• one or more computing nodes connected to each other and to the external connectors, each computing node including a central processing unit, a memory, or an input/output interface, wherein at least one computing node has a computing state machine and programs that describes and controls the behavior of the computing nodes at least during a connection event when an external connector is being connected to an external device and during a disconnection event when an external connector is being disconnected from an external device;
• wherein at least one computing node is programmed to receive or transmit information on the I/O lines from or to an external device, to be in transmission readiness regardless of whether a corresponding program on the external device is ready, to receive or transmit information when the corresponding program is ready, to reach conditional readiness for one or more predetermined conditions, and to proceed when one of the conditions becomes true on a program branch based on which of the conditions is chosen, the conditions including transmission readiness on the I/O lines and the condition being evaluated regardless of whether the corresponding program on the external device is ready,
• wherein the computing nodes of the computing device communicate with an external device across the I/O lines of the external connector.

A method for use in a computing device adapted for connecting to an external device via a data connection having input/output (I/O) lines, the method comprising:

• while an external device is connected via the data connection and active, setting the data connection to an idle and hot-swap ready state;
• maintaining the data connection in an idle and hot-swap ready state while the external device is inactive or absent;
• receiving a ready signal from an external device connected via the data connection;
• and
• transmitting data to or receiving data from the external device after receiving the ready signal.