3 ms·

Because it wasnt about "why they don't like unix" and it's not an argument against unix. The first is an aside about the failure of computer science in general,

by AyyEye 2y ago

Because it wasnt about "why they don't like unix" and it's not an argument against unix. The first is an aside about the failure of computer science in general, in a manifesto against AI types and cybernetic totalism [1] and the second is from "you are not a gadget". Why unix is bad isn't really the point of either when viewed in context. The second quote also has bits about wikipedia that I edited out for length. Where are our lisp machines? Our plan9? Our microkernels? The first (mainstream) half-interesting OS we've seen in decades is NixOS and that's still got linux under the hood as a compromise [2]. At least this space is lively right now, and maybe something like nix will let us use some of the good software on whatever interesting project comes next. [1] https://www.edge.org/conversation/jaron_lanier-one-half-a-manifesto https://www.edge.org/conversation/jaron_lanier-one-half-a-ma... [2] linux under NixOS isn't actually a hard requirement. There's no reason a brand new kernel can't be used. There are currently a few small projects that use rust-based non unix microkernels and other interesting experiments.

chris_wot 2y ago
I’ve gone and read the piece you’ve referenced and I can’t locate the second quote. However, I still cannot see any real technical argument about why he believes Linux is trash. The first quote is a diatribe about how, despite Moore’s Law, software seems to get slower. Nowhere does he give specific examples of how this is a Linux’s issue. Firstly, he isn’t terribly precise what he means by “Linux”. His example is an indexing process that apparently takes all night. There is no mention about why it is that Linux itself is the cause. The OS and even distribution does t seem to be the issue, but the way he is indexing. I cannot find anywhere in his rather long-winded essay about why he concretely thinks UNIX (and by extension, Linux) is the cause of his woes. If this is the best argument to say that technology is not where he wants it to be, then I’m unimpressed.

by AyyEye 2y ago

chris_wot 2y ago

I’ve gone and read the piece you’ve referenced and I can’t locate the second quote. However, I still cannot see any real technical argument about why he believes Linux is trash. The first quote is a diatribe about how, despite Moore’s Law, software seems to get slower. Nowhere does he give specific examples of how this is a Linux’s issue. Firstly, he isn’t terribly precise what he means by “Linux”. His example is an indexing process that apparently takes all night. There is no mention about why it is that Linux itself is the cause. The OS and even distribution does t seem to be the issue, but the way he is indexing. I cannot find anywhere in his rather long-winded essay about why he concretely thinks UNIX (and by extension, Linux) is the cause of his woes. If this is the best argument to say that technology is not where he wants it to be, then I’m unimpressed.