> Of course they're text. What else could they possibly be? Symbols. > As for going beyond text, it becomes difficult to coordinate richer types of files betw

> Of course they're text. What else could they possibly be? Symbols. > As for going beyond text, it becomes difficult to coordinate richer types of files between different groups Well, yeah, the reason why we focus on Unix as a lowest common denominator for OSes, text files as the best way to store code, etc isn't because they are objectively superior to everything else, but because they are things that were good enough and existed earlier enough to gain approval and have people learn and rely on them. But while this is a practical concern, that doesn't mean we can't think of alternatives. Perhaps with a stroke of luck or the right circumstances (e.g. some new type of platform) it could even catch on.