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#6 scaling the ladder of abstraction This is one I have a tough time explaining to students who are so focused on the task at hand they don't feel there's time
by mrcactu5 10y ago
#6 scaling the ladder of abstraction
This is one I have a tough time explaining to students who are so focused on the task at hand they don't feel there's time to sit back and reason in generality.
- bjz_ 10y agoCame across this Dijkstra quote via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqmsQeSzMdw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqmsQeSzMdw > The purpose of abstraction is not to be vague, but to create a new semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise By taking away all the non-essential things and leaving only on what you need, it allows you to truly understand the structures that you are studying. Definitely rings true when I work in ML/Haskell-style type systems. Easier said than done convincing the students though...
- catnaroek 10y ago> By taking away all the non-essential things and leaving only on what you need, it allows you to truly understand the structures that you are studying. This is the essence of type abstraction and parametricity!