3 ms·
> Anyone could have said similar things about computers in 1953, and been just as correct. Many people could say similar things about software in 2020 and be j
by wwweston 6y ago
> Anyone could have said similar things about computers in 1953, and been just as correct.
Many people could say similar things about software in 2020 and be just as correct. :) The good Admiral may be describing some timeless aspects of engineering, possibly related to the recently discussed observation that reality has a surprising amount of detail: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16184255 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16184255 .
Though, as you say, over time engineering can grind out some of the practical into practice.
- giblfiz 6y agoI, for one, never have corrosion problems on my software projects.
- solstice 6y agoI take it you're not programming in Rust? /s
- wwweston 6y agoYou jest, but... compatibility is the corrosion of software. The environment and dependencies underlying your software are slowly oxidizing/transforming all the time and unless you pick only the stainless steel of interfaces/system calls, your software will cease to function more quickly than lots of iron objects rust through.