> My hunch is that this constraint should be that abstractions must be reversible. > Here's an example: When you use a compiler, you can work at a higher layer

> My hunch is that this constraint should be that abstractions must be reversible. > Here's an example: When you use a compiler, you can work at a higher layer of abstraction (the higher-level language). But, this means you're now locked into that layer of abstraction. By that I mean, you can no longer work at the lower layer (assembly), even if you wanted to. You could in theory of course modify the compiler output after it's been generated, but then you'd have to somehow manually keep that work in sync whenever you want to re-generate. Using an abstraction kinda locks you into that layer. Just to make sure I understand, you're proposing a constraint that would rule out every compiler in existence today? I feel like overall I think compilers have worked out well, but if I'm not misunderstanding and this is how you actually feel, I guess I at least should comment your audacity, because I don't think I'd be willing to seriously propose something that radical.