Re:Preventing the Collapse of Civilization / Jonathan Blow [...
by Gunax on Friday October 02, 2020 @04:40PM
(#24666796)
I don't buy it. You're just exchanging one type of complexity for another.
Frankly I think this is rooted in a sense of nostalgia rather than practical concern. It's clear me blow enjoys being close to the metal. He wants to be a true hacker who can drill down to each and gate.
But the reality of systems is that they grow more complicated. There is a popular TED talk that claims there is no one on earth who understands how a computer mouse is manufactured. There are just too many steps and specialities (mineral identification, mining, material science, manufacturing, ergonomics, etc).
Anyone who has ever re-made a piece of software knows this trap.
Software starts -> features get added -> it's too complicated, we don't understand it anymore -> throw it away and start over.
It almost never ends up any better. It's a trap as you quickly realise why it was so complicated.
Frankly I think this is rooted in a sense of nostalgia rather than practical concern. It's clear me blow enjoys being close to the metal. He wants to be a true hacker who can drill down to each and gate.
But the reality of systems is that they grow more complicated. There is a popular TED talk that claims there is no one on earth who understands how a computer mouse is manufactured. There are just too many steps and specialities (mineral identification, mining, material science, manufacturing, ergonomics, etc).
Anyone who has ever re-made a piece of software knows this trap.
Software starts -> features get added -> it's too complicated, we don't understand it anymore -> throw it away and start over.
It almost never ends up any better. It's a trap as you quickly realise why it was so complicated.