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There is no concerted master plan, only least resistance paths when trying to build something. Programmer uses language X (JavaScript) and need to do something
by zimbatm 13y ago
There is no concerted master plan, only least resistance paths when trying to build something.
Programmer uses language X (JavaScript) and need to do something sufficiently complex he doesn't want to write again (image processing / game dynamics / crypto). Programmer writes a transpiler.
Or programmer A wants to do something heretic for the sake of it, programmer B sees an opportunity for his sufficiently complex library.
- alok-g 13y agoThinking of this as an non-convex optimization problem, economic forces just make the mankind constantly evaluate the risk vs. reward they have around their current local point, and move towards what is most likely a local minimum (or on the very least move towards the global minimum in a very convoluted time-intensive manner). All of this because of the pile of legacy we have ourselves created (not knowing at that time what the future holds, so not blaming anyone here), including getting the users' minds too adapted to that existing legacy. Is there no better way (open-ended question)? (Maybe not, by definition.)
- jamesaguilar 13y ago> (Maybe not, by definition.) The definitions have nothing to do with whether there is a better way. There probably is, but we probably are not going to find it with our brains working how they do. We aren't a hive mind, we aren't going to optimize globally, although we make some attempts here and there.