Recent tweet by a coder I know (VS2008)

OMFG! ARGH! I QUIT! I CANT DO THIS ANYMORE! I AM RESKILLING TO FLIP BURGERS! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! OMFGWTF-BARB-E-EFFING-QUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Discouraged by version control

So I watch the Git vs Mercurial vs bazaar vs SVN low-intensity conflict simmer on the intarweb and I wonder... Is is me or has all that stuff suddenly become Too Hard to use? Where has it all deviated from the Unix philosophy and gone down the Enterprise Way?

I think I'm just going to go back to the old way: compressed archives of (few) directories.

For those who ask, indignantly, and not on this blog because comment count is almost negative, about the multi-member team working on massive software, I reply: The Rule Of Modularity (http://www.faqs.org/docs/artu/ch01s06.html#id2877537), which I transcribe here purely for effect.

Rule of Modularity: Write simple parts connected by clean interfaces.

As Brian Kernighan once observed, “Controlling complexity is the essence of computer programming” [Kernighan-Plauger]. Debugging dominates development time, and getting a working system out the door is usually less a result of brilliant design than it is of managing not to trip over your own feet too many times.

Assemblers, compilers, flowcharting, procedural programming, structured programming, “artificial intelligence”, fourth-generation languages, object orientation, and software-development methodologies without number have been touted and sold as a cure for this problem. All have failed as cures, if only because they ‘succeeded’ by escalating the normal level of program complexity to the point where (once again) human brains could barely cope. As Fred Brooks famously observed [Brooks], there is no silver bullet.

The only way to write complex software that won't fall on its face is to hold its global complexity down — to build it out of simple parts connected by well-defined interfaces, so that most problems are local and you can have some hope of upgrading a part without breaking the whole.

On writing software.

Excellent rant by Bruce Eckel on what it's like to write software. Along a similar vein, a post by Mark Ramm that generated lively and interesting comments!

Then more interesting stuff here from Jakob Kaplan-Moss with lively discussion, including Ian Bicking.

On thinking in

Part of the ongoing thinking forming in my mind about how I create software.

I left a comment there:
http://myownhat.blogspot.com/2009/07/help-how-do-you-do-test-driven-design.html

See also: http://chrismahan.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html

I've just made another interesting deviation while rereading the above. The rulers in Dune relied on the mentats to best determinate long-term strategy, as well as implementation details. The elder Herbert continues to amaze me.

Python in the Browser?

I so can't wait for this to work!

By work, I mean usable by mortals like me.

Thoughts on Iran, June 20 2009 10:57PM

I think there will be a massacre today in the streets of Tehran.

I am deeply proud of the courage and dedication shown by the protesters. I feel honored to be able to witness their courage and sacrifice.

I think the regime is not using the army and the revolutionary guards because they would turn to the opposition. If there is widespread death today, the army and revolutionary guards will swing into action. No doubt of that. I am sure they are getting everything ready in the barracks for a long fight.

Iran power struggle switching sides?

5:52 PM Pacific time.

Personal opinion from web-wide look:

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be replaced, as well as Ahmadinejad.

The police and army will side with peaceful demonstrators and Basiji will be blamed for worst of violence, shootings.

Iran will remain Islamic country, but with a much better understanding of democracy.

I fear the government of Iran is planning a massive crackdown on its own citizens, which will result in much bloodshed.

Iran

I'm following the news out of Iran on twitter on #iranelection.

The rest of the news media are playing catchup.

Lessons in Leadership from the USS Nimitz

http://blogs.openforum.com/2009/06/10/top-ten-lessons-from-the-us-navy-what-you-can-learn-on-an-aircraft-carrier-at-sea/

Impressive.

No wonder we're safe.

Wale and Lady GaGa

It's Wah-lay.

Funny vid on youtube about Vendor Client negotiations

And it's funny too!

More writing

I promised Hitomi I'd start writing again. So I'm gonna have to.

/me loves Lady Gaga

Yeah, she's all that.