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Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, V 4B, has gone into print

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Re: Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, V 4B, has gone into print

#291
post #226

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Google and Youtube often think I am a robot because of how fast I operate on their sites: typing, clicking, switching tabs etc..

I wish modern OS could keep up with my typing and window switching and app launching and ... I'm constantly perturbed and interrupted when some app window just 'hangs' for a few seconds (some garbage collection going on, probably?). I can't pinpoint any one thing, just... everything seems relatively slow in 2022 compared to, even 10 years ago, and certainly 20. Applications weren't always phoning home to check things…

Latency is the worst thing when operating any machinery. I don't know why people tolerate it so much with computers. It's one of the most important things for me when using any software. That's why a long time ago I settled on using tools like emacs, git, i3/sway etc. When I try trendy tools like VSCode etc. I can't believe the latency people put up with.

Re: Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, V 4B, has gone into print

#294
post #150

There's something beautiful about his work on the series. He's been working on it for years, built TeX (not sure if that was for this series or other books of his), and has such ambitious plans. He's a serious legend in the field of computer science and we're lucky to have someone like him to have provided our industry with so much incredible knowledge. I'm interested to see how the series progresses for the next 30…

> I'm interested to see how the series progresses for the next 30 years. Donald is 84. And each time I’m reminded of that I get sad, it’s very unlikely we’ll get another 30 years of his work.

I didn't want to say it out right as it felt kind of morbid, but I'm wondering how it will carry on after he passes. Not sure if there's someone he's asked to continue it after his passing or not, but I hope so.

Re: Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, V 4B, has gone into print

#295
post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone whose computing career was improved by learning to touch-type in grade school (Mom had been a secretary, saw that these "personal" computers had keyboards, and bludgeoned the high school to let me in to the summer-school typing class) it's not actually the speed that matters - though that does certainly impress people - it's that it's "automatic". If you're not thinking about letters and where they are, yo…

There is however a terrible effect on productivity and self-respect when you have to switch keyboard layout for any reason. I'm still one month into switching to a macbook, and I now dread cutting and pasting. Oh, and typing "pipe", too. I wonder how long it will take my 40+ years old brain and hands to get their act together...

I'm an oldster who just got a split ergonomic keyboard for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I'm going through the exact same experience. It's getting better, but my typing/coding speed has been cut in half as I unlearn bad typing habits accumulated over the decades.

Re: Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, V 4B, has gone into print

#296
post #197

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> moving between EMacs panes Well, the editor wars are over folks. More seriously, Don Knuth is a treasure. One of the coolest things about computing science is how all the greats in the field are either alive, or within the living memory of people who are.

These are the photos my wife took at his home. https://www.quantamagazine.org/computer-scientist-donald-knu... Like the 5th picture down you can see him standing (he uses a standing desk!) and if you blow up the screen, you can see part of an emacs window on the left hand side. I believe he also was using emacs shell windows as well, but not 100% sure. Direct Link: https://d2r55xnwy6nx47.cloudfront.net/uploads/2020/0…

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Re: Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, V 4B, has gone into print

#297

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We won! Emacs vs VI war over. It's finally over thanks to Knuth! VI users will be forced to pay reparations, and agree to cede territory back to the Emacs military alliance. :)

apparently only uses one screen too. can we (re)start some religious wars over that now? :)

It is on-going. See some remarks before on whether he would be faster if he use vi.

(Sorry have to run …)

Re: Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, V 4B, has gone into print

#298
post #217

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> No small coincidence then that Knuth is an organist Also great on the harpsichord and piano.

Id love to listen to Knuth perform his instruments. Can this be found on youtube?

Just search Knuth organ on youtube an you get several hits

Re: Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, V 4B, has gone into print

#299
post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also noticed smart people type really fast (if they can touch type) and can switch between multiple windows/tabs fast too. It's not because their fingers move faster than normal people, but because their mind moves smoothly so they can produce a long string of command with stopping to think. > as fast as any 20 year old. I I certainly hope so. Though I think it's more likely that Knuth can be as fast as other 20-ye…

As someone whose computing career was improved by learning to touch-type in grade school (Mom had been a secretary, saw that these "personal" computers had keyboards, and bludgeoned the high school to let me in to the summer-school typing class) it's not actually the speed that matters - though that does certainly impress people - it's that it's "automatic". If you're not thinking about letters and where they are, yo…

Not a joke, my fingers and brain know vim and I don't. Often have to try it out to know what command I'm actually using.

Re: Knuth's Art of Computer Programming, V 4B, has gone into print

#300
post #235

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God is strangely obsessed with foreskins.

The law of circumcision was done away with in Jesus. It's sad that many Christians still practice it.

Not really. It is Paul. The debate was there and the dominate one is peter-james Jerusalem group. Paul actually lost if you read between the lines. Only later as that branch was sort of kill of and Pauline Christianity with the Hugh gentile group won. Then no Jewish law
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