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I know it's a rant, but my explanation for the popularity of such visualization is their familiarity. I mean, I'd also prefer a more accurate use of references

I know it's a rant, but my explanation for the popularity of such visualization is their familiarity. I mean, I'd also prefer a more accurate use of references to science, but I guess you will agree that "A periodic table of X" sounds pretty cool and makes you read the article :)

cwmoore 1y ago
Ok, now show me a molecule. The Periodic Table of Elements is a deep reference object, not a graphic design template.
- metalliqaz 1y ago
  it's both just by it's ubiquity and success it has become a template for graphical design
  - peteforde 1y ago
    The periodicity reflects the allowed solutions to the Schrödinger equation for electrons in atoms. It is not some branding teams' genius design innovation. Ironically, you are in a superstate between "can" and "should".
    - mbb70 1y ago
      It is _also_ a colorful collection of boxes that a billion+ people could instantly identify. Cashing in on that global cultural awareness is just the kind of innovation a genius branding team needs. It does annoy me when 'Periodic Tables of X' are just lists of color coded boxes, but I get it.
      - peteforde 1y ago
        The problem - and it is a problem - is that this is not a good thing. A billion+ people instantly identify police, but dressing like a cop is a crime.
        deleted 1y ago
        [deleted]
    - emmelaich 1y ago
      FWIW, there are other styles which emphasise other aspects. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_periodic_tables https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_periodic_tables
- jarulraj 1y ago
  Author here, great question :) If principles are the elements, we can think of each system as a "molecule" with some imagination. For example, an SQL database system has many principles: 1. Abstraction Lifting (Al) + Policy/Mechanism Separation (Pm): SQL states high-level intent with precise semantics, and logical operators are decoupled from physical operators. 2. Equivalence-based Planning (Ep) + Invariant-Guided Transformation (Ig): We apply algebraic rewrites that preserve semantics (e.g., join reordering, predicate pushdown) under stated invariants. 3. Cost-based Planning (Cm): We choose concrete physical operators and join orders using a cost model and so on..

cwmoore 1y ago

Ok, now show me a molecule. The Periodic Table of Elements is a deep reference object, not a graphic design template.

metalliqaz 1y ago
it's both just by it's ubiquity and success it has become a template for graphical design
- peteforde 1y ago
  The periodicity reflects the allowed solutions to the Schrödinger equation for electrons in atoms. It is not some branding teams' genius design innovation. Ironically, you are in a superstate between "can" and "should".
  - mbb70 1y ago
    It is _also_ a colorful collection of boxes that a billion+ people could instantly identify. Cashing in on that global cultural awareness is just the kind of innovation a genius branding team needs. It does annoy me when 'Periodic Tables of X' are just lists of color coded boxes, but I get it.
    - peteforde 1y ago
      The problem - and it is a problem - is that this is not a good thing. A billion+ people instantly identify police, but dressing like a cop is a crime.
      - deleted 1y ago
        [deleted]
  - emmelaich 1y ago
    FWIW, there are other styles which emphasise other aspects. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_periodic_tables https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_periodic_tables
jarulraj 1y ago
Author here, great question :) If principles are the elements, we can think of each system as a "molecule" with some imagination. For example, an SQL database system has many principles: 1. Abstraction Lifting (Al) + Policy/Mechanism Separation (Pm): SQL states high-level intent with precise semantics, and logical operators are decoupled from physical operators. 2. Equivalence-based Planning (Ep) + Invariant-Guided Transformation (Ig): We apply algebraic rewrites that preserve semantics (e.g., join reordering, predicate pushdown) under stated invariants. 3. Cost-based Planning (Cm): We choose concrete physical operators and join orders using a cost model and so on..