Re:Ask HN: Is web programming a series of hacks on hacks?
by porker on Monday September 12, 2016 @06:31AM
(#12478507)
> I think that not only we would have self-driving cars, they'd be working much more reliably than proposed solutions of today, and would utilize some pretty clever analog-driven methods.
More info please?
Re:Ask HN: Is web programming a series of hacks on hacks?
by TeMPOraL on Monday September 12, 2016 @06:57AM
(#12478637)
Consider this - the 50-80s era was known not only for putting men on the Moon, military and space agencies were doing a lot of crazy shit like space shuttle that could start and land autonomously (Buran), or capturing small items dropped from orbit mid-flight over the ocean (Corona program, see [0]), precisely targeting cruise missiles [1], etc. - all without the benefits of microcomputers we know today, without high-level languages, cheap computing devices, etc.
It seems that back then people were more focused on making things actually work instead of making them look sexy and easy to sell.
[0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_(satellite)#Recovery
[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertial_navigation_system#His...
Re:Ask HN: Is web programming a series of hacks on hacks?
by wvenable on Monday September 12, 2016 @01:10PM
(#12481521)
It required unbelievable amount of man power and money to do those things. The real benefit to all our modern technology is to do more with less. It's not that people were more focused; it's just that there were many more of them and there was way more money involved.
I think that not only we would have self-driving cars, they'd be working much more reliably than proposed solutions of today, and would utilize some pretty clever analog-driven methods.
The problem isn't with JavaScript, the problem is with the culture which glorifies mindlesss throwing of shit at a wall to see what sticks, instead of actually thinking of what one's doing and checking if a given topic wasn't already explored by smart people a few decades ago.