http://qs1969.pair.com?node_id=235671


in reply to How do you view programming

For me, coding(*) is neither art nor science nor engineering.

Hopefully, that will remain the case at least until after I retire. As for all you youngsters out there...good luck:)


Examine what is said, not who speaks.

The 7th Rule of perl club is -- pearl clubs are easily damaged. Use a diamond club instead.

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^2: How do you view programming
by Aristotle (Chancellor) on Feb 18, 2003 at 17:20 UTC
    ++ for a great post.
    Without their invention, file systems that allowed useful designation of, and selection by, meta-data would do away with much of the nonsense that hierarchical directory structures cause.
    I think what you're asking for here is a database. BeOS actually does what you ask for; a pity that OS died at such a young age. Let's hope the open source thrust that is attempting to breath new life into it will succeed.

    Makeshifts last the longest.

      A database? Yes, in the generic sense of the term rather than any specific sense like RDBMS etc. I never encountered BeOS, but I did have passing flirtations with two other systems who's filesystems retained more information about a given dataset than just name/who/when/how big, namely PICK and MUMPS. Both also went to the great bit bucket in the sky although there are still small pockets of resistance clinging on to the use of both.


      Examine what is said, not who speaks.

      The 7th Rule of perl club is -- pearl clubs are easily damaged. Use a diamond club instead.