This article is about classifying things. It’s inspired by the fact that there are leaf-shaped swords and sword-shaped leaves, but also swords that aren’t leaf-shaped and leaves that aren’t sword-shaped. So, when we say a sword is leaf-shaped, which kind of leaves is it like? Similarly, when a leaf is sword-shaped, what kind of sword … Continue reading Classification: leaf-shaped swords and sword-shaped leaves
Category: Rambling
Help!
There are two mental models you could have where it comes to who knows what, helping people (or not) to know new things etc. The models will influence how people treat each other, and how efficiently people learn things. In one model, I am a dragon sitting on top of a pile of knowledge that … Continue reading Help!
Palimpsests ancient and modern
This is a kind of follow-up article to a previous article about pairs ancient and modern for security. That article discussed how pairs help with security in old physical documents and objects, and also in modern electronic ones. This article goes into palimpsests and other ways of partially erasing things, for old physical things and … Continue reading Palimpsests ancient and modern
Arts and humanities in computing
You might work in software because you just like to build cool things. I understand this, and I also like to geek out about things like balanced trees and coupling and cohesion. However, you're probably building something to solve a problem for someone, rather than just building for the sake of it. Whose problem are … Continue reading Arts and humanities in computing
Be Kind
This article is about kindness at work, particularly kindness as part of building software (although much of it is relevant to all businesses). I’ve been meaning to write something like this for ages, and finally was given a kick up the backside by watching an excellent talk by Dan Terhorst-North. I really recommend the talk … Continue reading Be Kind
Generative AI and skills
There has been a lot in tech news and opinion recently about what generative AI will or won’t do, such as take away jobs from programmers and testers. I’ve had a long enough career in software to be able to put generative AI in a bigger context, which I think helps to understand some of … Continue reading Generative AI and skills
International languages?
There are several things that are either official or de facto international languages. (I’m using a more elastic meaning of the word language than you might expect.) It’s interesting to look at the history and influences behind these languages, because they often leave fingerprints on the language. Who are the languages for? Who decides on … Continue reading International languages?
The big and small idea
I was talking with a Cambridge University student recently, in particular about their University Card. It’s a very useful card, that in one way can be described very simply. As far as I understand, the card lets students, academics and staff across the university access rooms and services, by proving their identity electronically. That’s something … Continue reading The big and small idea
Analogies and objectives for testing
I guess if I had to define my role at work it would be: programmer. However, I have learned a lot from people who wouldn't call themselves programmers, such as testers (Michael Bolton, Jerry Weinberg, the Ministry of Testing community etc.), user experience experts (Paul Boag, Jared Spool, Don Norman etc.), and data people of … Continue reading Analogies and objectives for testing
How permanent is your data?
This article was inspired by a video from the British Museum, where a conservator discusses a 500-year-old khipu. A khipu is a document, used for keeping records or accounts, made of knotted strings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mvjiMjZf-4 I recommend you watch the video – I found it really interesting and well-presented. I hadn’t come across khipus before, and … Continue reading How permanent is your data?
Random Tech Thoughts 