3 ms·

In what universe is iPad non-programmable?

by 10098 14y ago

michaelt 14y ago
In the universe where, to program it, you need a fully fledged computer to do the development on?
- 10098 14y ago
  So? You still are able to program it, aren't you? Therefore, it is programmable.
  - michaelt 14y ago
    I can't personally, as I can't afford a mac. But I see what you mean. There are different senses in which the word 'programmable' can be used - you can program a VCR without ever seeing a line of code! What I assume ekianjo meant was: There is a long standing tradition in the personal computing industry of being able to program on the computer itself without costly extra equipment or software. You look at your BBC Micro, your ZX-81, your TRS-80 they can all be programmed on the device. It was the same with mainframes and servers. Even DOS and Windows had QBASIC. Nowerdays, programming tools can be downloaded over the internet in a few clicks. The PC has always been a device which can not only consume software, but can produce it. Many people in the hacking community see this as a good thing - as a democratisation of creative power, and for educating the next generation of technologists, engineers, scientists and makers. The iPad lacks the ability to program on the device itself. It can only consume software, it cannot produce it. It does not belong to the long, revered tradition of self-programmability. It is in that sense that it is not programmable.
    - ekianjo 14y ago
      Yes, that is exactly what I meant. Especially in the context of a course to learn about interactive computing, I find this very ironic that the prize offered is a non-programmable device. Why not offer a washing machine or an oven, then?
ekianjo 14y ago
Try to write a python script and run it natively on the iPad, and we'll talk again if we live in the same universe.
- 10098 14y ago
  I don't follow. Is Python the only programming language available? Is programmability determined by a device's ability to run python scripts natively?
  - ekianjo 14y ago
    That's an example. On any open device you can program in any language. There are no restrictions. The iPad is a walled garden and there are clear limits to what you can envision doing, embedded in the way it is designed and locked down.

In what universe is iPad non-programmable?

by 10098 14y ago

In what universe is iPad non-programmable?

michaelt 14y ago

In the universe where, to program it, you need a fully fledged computer to do the development on?

10098 14y ago
So? You still are able to program it, aren't you? Therefore, it is programmable.
- michaelt 14y ago
  I can't personally, as I can't afford a mac. But I see what you mean. There are different senses in which the word 'programmable' can be used - you can program a VCR without ever seeing a line of code! What I assume ekianjo meant was: There is a long standing tradition in the personal computing industry of being able to program on the computer itself without costly extra equipment or software. You look at your BBC Micro, your ZX-81, your TRS-80 they can all be programmed on the device. It was the same with mainframes and servers. Even DOS and Windows had QBASIC. Nowerdays, programming tools can be downloaded over the internet in a few clicks. The PC has always been a device which can not only consume software, but can produce it. Many people in the hacking community see this as a good thing - as a democratisation of creative power, and for educating the next generation of technologists, engineers, scientists and makers. The iPad lacks the ability to program on the device itself. It can only consume software, it cannot produce it. It does not belong to the long, revered tradition of self-programmability. It is in that sense that it is not programmable.
  - ekianjo 14y ago
    Yes, that is exactly what I meant. Especially in the context of a course to learn about interactive computing, I find this very ironic that the prize offered is a non-programmable device. Why not offer a washing machine or an oven, then?

ekianjo 14y ago

Try to write a python script and run it natively on the iPad, and we'll talk again if we live in the same universe.

10098 14y ago
I don't follow. Is Python the only programming language available? Is programmability determined by a device's ability to run python scripts natively?
- ekianjo 14y ago
  That's an example. On any open device you can program in any language. There are no restrictions. The iPad is a walled garden and there are clear limits to what you can envision doing, embedded in the way it is designed and locked down.