The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
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The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
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Re: The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
#2(2012)
Re: The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
#3I define a hack as a use of something in a way it was not intended to be used to achieve a goal. This definition is missing from this essay, and the ones it does present are poor IMO. Under my definition, hacking falls entirely in domain of the Lisp programmer. Fortran engineers are the ones who get fired for hacking.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the "Fortran" approach. Sometimes, it is necessary. But it's clear that the Lisp-style solution is always preferable unless proven inadequate for the problem at hand.
Re: The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
#4This article misses the point. The Fibonacci/factorial calculations are just toy examples to easily illustrate recursion to a beginner. Nobody who actually needs to compute them for a real application would think that these inefficient, merely pedagogical examples would be the way to do it; Lisp hackers would have no problem using the closed-form solutions.
Re: The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
#5I think that the most important idea of math, programming, physics etc is the idea of fixed points which is predicated on the idea of nilpotence.
Fixed points go by many names like invariance, spectra, diagonalization, embedding, braids etc.
By fixed point I mean something like the "Lawvere's fixed point theorem". https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/Lawvere%27s+fixed+point+theore...
I have a braindump on this https://github.com/adamnemecek/adjoint
I also have a discord https://discord.gg/mr9TAhpyBW
Re: The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
#6I think that the most important idea of math, programming, physics etc is the idea of fixed points which is predicated on the idea of nilpotence. Fixed points go by many names like invariance, spectra, diagonalization, embedding, braids etc. By fixed point I mean something like the "Lawvere's fixed point theorem". https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/Lawvere%27s+fixed+point+theore... I have a braindump on this https://githu…
Corrected link: https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/Lawvere%27s+fixed+point+theore...
Re: The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
#7I think that the most important idea of math, programming, physics etc is the idea of fixed points which is predicated on the idea of nilpotence. Fixed points go by many names like invariance, spectra, diagonalization, embedding, braids etc. By fixed point I mean something like the "Lawvere's fixed point theorem". https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/Lawvere%27s+fixed+point+theore... I have a braindump on this https://githu…
[deleted]
Re: The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
#8I think that the most important idea of math, programming, physics etc is the idea of fixed points which is predicated on the idea of nilpotence. Fixed points go by many names like invariance, spectra, diagonalization, embedding, braids etc. By fixed point I mean something like the "Lawvere's fixed point theorem". https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/Lawvere%27s+fixed+point+theore... I have a braindump on this https://githu…
Corrected link: https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/Lawvere%27s+fixed+point+theore...
Fixed.
Re: The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
#9In Steve Yegge’s linked post:
> Math is a lot easier to pick up after you know how to program. In fact, if you're a halfway decent programmer, you'll find it's almost a snap.
This couldn’t be more wrong. Mathematics is the hardest thing I have ever done. I’m sorry, but mathematics is orders of magnitude more intensive and difficult than most programming. A simple fact that shows this is the amount of programmers who have no formal training in engineering or computer science but we’re able to self-teach the concepts. The same cannot be said of mathematics, which requires deep, dedicated study. Most programmers I know know very little mathematics, and it’s not like I’d claim I know a lot either. I’ve forgotten more than I know.
He even mentions how little math he took, so I’m not sure he’s an authority on the subject. Most of his post is just surface level platitudes. I’m generally confused why I see his posts referenced so frequently.
To be clear, this isn't some attempt at gatekeeping. It's just that mathematics is a very deep, difficult, and misunderstood subject. I think maybe only true philosophy is harder because there, it's usually not even clear what the questions are.
Re: The Mathematical Hacker (2012)
#10Feels like the “modern” data science & python hacker/plumber is typically closer to the Fortan and linear algebra side these days?