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Point taken. I have a Python program that is an elemental version of awk, and I use that for the odd task. I can modify it if needed and I have the entire Pytho
by getpost 3y ago
Point taken. I have a Python program that is an elemental version of awk, and I use that for the odd task. I can modify it if needed and I have the entire Python library to help me. Is the text Unicode? HTML? These little details matter.
I'm not complaining that someone banged out awk (speaking figuratively) on a Friday afternoon to do something and not have to stay after work. Excellent! My complaint is that the failure to address technical debt has negatively affected the productivity of millions, if not tens of millions, of people, often working under pressure, for DECADES.
- ghshephard 3y agoI'm not sure what technical debt you are referring to. Awk is designed to do one very simple job, and it does so using a language that I can usually teach to new SREs in < 2 Hours with 9-10 follow up tasks that drill in their understanding. It's benefited from extraordinarily enlightened stewardship, kept it's minimalism and strengths, and will finally get a key enhancement (UTF-8 support). The first edition manual is probably the greatest example I've ever seen of technical writing as well.