I would like a version with brahman, prana, kundalini, and shiva and shakti instead of qi/chi and yin and yang.
Shiva’s coding practices are hardcore. Every 36 minutes the git repo is reset.
And time is a circle.
The Tao of Programming (1987)
41–50 of 64 posts
Re: The Tao of Programming (1987)
#42Earlier quoted context omitted.
> It's just working itself that sucks. AKA alienation of labor, as Marx put it: > labor is external to the worker. It does not belong to his nature. He does not realize himself in his work, that he denies himself in it. That he does not feel at ease in it but rather unhappy. He does not develop free physical and mental energy in it... The worker is only himself when he does not work, and in his work he feels outside…
People hate Capitalism in the same way they hate Country Music. They say, "I like all music except Country. I hate Country." And you say, "So you hate Johnny Cash?" And they say, "Oh. No, I like Johnny Cash. But I hate the rest of Country." This is the Tao of Labels.
But the Johnny Cash thing is spot on.
Re: The Tao of Programming (1987)
#43Earlier quoted context omitted.
What I find troubling is that we don’t own our goods in the digital space. When you “buy” a kindle book, you don’t own that book, you own a license to read that cannot be transferred or inherited. That means that parents no longer can pass on cultural artifacts to their children and grandchildren. This cannot be a healthy evolution for humanity.
There are two types of people, broadly speaking: the ones that keep nothing always throw everything away and format their computers once a year, and the ones that hoard everything like an archive. Although I am proudly the second type, I understand that many people are the first type. They don't really care that much about this stuff that to me feels fundamental, so they have no issue with things not really being the…
The thing with owning books is that your family eventually finds your way to them if you own any. My family found my old books recently when looking for something to read - I saw it on their desks. Had to tell them "Yea, that's good, throw that one away, I wasted my time on it, don't waste yours." So that's an argument for keeping stuff, but extremely filtered.
Kind of like code, I guess.
Re: The Tao of Programming (1987)
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
If your current job is your would-be hobby, and you still have to work +40h per week, chances are that it can't get better than this. It's just working itself that sucks.
> It's just working itself that sucks. AKA alienation of labor, as Marx put it: > labor is external to the worker. It does not belong to his nature. He does not realize himself in his work, that he denies himself in it. That he does not feel at ease in it but rather unhappy. He does not develop free physical and mental energy in it... The worker is only himself when he does not work, and in his work he feels outside…
> You don't hate Mondays, you hate capitalism
More likely, you hate modern hyper-specialized ways of production (in the broadest sense). Capitalism is what brought that mode of production about, but it's a prerequisite for any economic system that wants to be productive.
I think market socialism is a great idea and we should move towards it. I also think that it can occasionally give us all more agency, by increasing the power of employee representation and participation in firms.
However, I have little hope that it will truly move the needle on subjective/perceived alienation from our work for most people.
Re: The Tao of Programming (1987)
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
I moved abroad about ten years ago to a non English speaking country. Got the first kindle that came out and never looked back. I have hundreds of books I take with me everywhere now.
I have hundreds of books I take with me everywhere now This is an underexplored cultural shift I think. In the past your books and your music on LP or CD and your movies on DVD or VHS were part of the decor, usually on prominent display in the living room, the room of the house where guests were entertained. Even your games carts for your console would be in that display. Seeing what was in your host's collection was…
This. Having done 4 intercontinental moves, some on tight budgets, I have donated/dumped boxes of books and now mostly read on my e-book to avoid repeating that. The only downside I have seen to this is the "display case" which is such a great way to find out when you share fringe interests with visitors.
One technical solution I have given a lot of thought is to achieve a tangible representation of books, music and photo albums as small printed cards. These cards should then be recognizable by your media devices (e-readers, audio-players,...) via QR codes or RFID tags. Think putting on a playlist by dumping a bunch of music cards on your player, etc.
Re: The Tao of Programming (1987)
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
What I find troubling is that we don’t own our goods in the digital space. When you “buy” a kindle book, you don’t own that book, you own a license to read that cannot be transferred or inherited. That means that parents no longer can pass on cultural artifacts to their children and grandchildren. This cannot be a healthy evolution for humanity.
There are two types of people, broadly speaking: the ones that keep nothing always throw everything away and format their computers once a year, and the ones that hoard everything like an archive. Although I am proudly the second type, I understand that many people are the first type. They don't really care that much about this stuff that to me feels fundamental, so they have no issue with things not really being the…
"The things you own end up owning you."
Re: The Tao of Programming (1987)
#47Such a great text.
However, the fact that the programmers are all "he" and the only reference to a female pronoun is a "hostess greeting her guests" was somewhat abrasive to me.
Previous discussion on the topic: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8036547
I get it -- it's written in an old style. And I don't want to censor art.
SO -- I made a "mod" for the book, that randomizes the pronouns each time. https://xtao.stream
Still a WIP -- want to add more info/motivation to the site before really releasing it, but I wanted to share here & would love any feedback.. expecting downvotes.. ;)
Re: The Tao of Programming (1987)
#48I went through a major book downsizing ~7 years ago when I moved unexpectedly. I don't know the exact book count, but something like 60+ linear feet, down to a single armload. The Tao of Programming and The Tao of Pooh both made that cut.
Paring down a book collection is a very strange act for the bibliophile. I only did it once but the end result was a much sharper collection. (Un?)Fortunately since then I got a bigger place, more shelves, and now my collection is over 2x since then. But the day I donated a ton of books sticks out in my mind, I remember the weather, all of my movements, and even what I ate for lunch (chicken sandwich). Few days from…
Ugh. We were moving and donated books to a local goodwill type charity. Later we found out that they literally were sending all donated books to a paper recycler. I could understand that with some books, damaged or foxed (or dragoned) but it was an unexpected emotional blow.
Re: The Tao of Programming (1987)
#49Re: The Tao of Programming (1987)
#50Such a great text. However, the fact that the programmers are all "he" and the only reference to a female pronoun is a "hostess greeting her guests" was somewhat abrasive to me. Previous discussion on the topic: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8036547 I get it -- it's written in an old style. And I don't want to censor art. SO -- I made a "mod" for the book, that randomizes the pronouns each time. https://xtao.s…
I love it! Instead of just complaining, you're also offering a solution.