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Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

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Re: Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

#231

Post by HappMacDonald »

dennis_jeeves2 wrote: post #229
ThrowawayR2 wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've always wondered how people who write code could possibly be unaware of the modulo operator. In the 8-bit and 16-bit CPU era, or even just when working with data types of that width, one has to be aware of wraparound / overflow if the value gets too large and that's what modulo is. Is it just developers who came of age in the 64-bit CPU era that have this gap?

>I've always wondered how people who write code could possibly be unaware of the modulo operator. Worked for 25+ years in regular business software - banking , insurance etc. I never recollect using the modulo operator.

When one's primary handling of numbers comes down to either linear (single-dimensional) lists or money, then you won't use modulo very much.

But any time you're walking over a discrete multidimensional list packed into a linear list, or walking over any discrete periodic signal (one very common example would be walking a linear array of screen pixels, walking over pcm samples in an audio waveform, literally 100% of GPU programming and 90+% of SIMD programming) you will want to be able to translate between "how far from the start am I" and "how far into the current cycle am I", and modulo handles that.

Similarly for almost anything involving time calculations (and for the same reason: because they are periodic). Modulo is literally described as "clock arithmetic" after all.

Here you can find Tempestt Bledsoe singing about it, lol https://youtu.be/fqtzqcJ6agE?t=570s

So you are absolutely correct that there do exist avenues in programming which can dodge this particular raindrop, I hope you aren't opposed to the idea that they are at least few and far between? ;)

Re: Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

#232

Post by dennis_jeeves2 »

HappMacDonald wrote: post #231
dennis_jeeves2 wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I've always wondered how people who write code could possibly be unaware of the modulo operator. Worked for 25+ years in regular business software - banking , insurance etc. I never recollect using the modulo operator.

When one's primary handling of numbers comes down to either linear (single-dimensional) lists or money, then you won't use modulo very much. But any time you're walking over a discrete multidimensional list packed into a linear list, or walking over any discrete periodic signal (one very common example would be walking a linear array of screen pixels, walking over pcm samples in an audio waveform, literally 100% of G…

>I hope you aren't opposed to the idea that they are at least few and far between? ;)

Absolutely not. Part of the reason why I mentioned the areas that I work in, are for that reason. I suspect that the vast majority of software jobs are of the kind I mentioned.

As the HN user 'strken' correctly pointed out, fizzbuzz can stump an experienced job candidate if he has never used the modulo operator.

Re: Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

#233

Post by jrflowers »

tptacek wrote: post #193
jrflowers wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

lmao at substituting “ever” for “in our lifetimes” “That will never happen” and “I think I’ll die before that happens” aren’t interchangeable. Hydrogen will never have two protons, SHA-2 will be broken. “I personally don’t consider a future where I’m not around as existing” is like busting out an Uno reverse card when you lose a hand at poker

This objection doesn't make sense in the context of the thread.

It’s not an objection. Somebody said “[x thing] is impermanent” and the rebuttal you posted was “human life is also impermanent”

That’s not really a rebuttal to the notion that everything is impermanent, that supports it.

Anyway a wizened crone told me I’ll die on 11 September 2098, so let’s give me two weeks to gloat. Two weeks before that date. I will bet you that it happens on or before that date. Props for taking the over that no collisions of SHA-2 will happen before then

Re: Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

#235

Post by listic »

newsy-combi wrote: post #24
listic wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I expected the link [1] to be to the explaination of what "black pilled" means, but only because I already read and remember xkcd 1053.

Blue pill: The supplier of the thing you want is friendly and has your best interest in mind. (Suppliers can be corporations, government, the opposite sex,...) Red pill: The supplier is corrupt and should be treated as such. Black pill: You can't win against the corrupt supplier. White pill: You can win/convert the supplier/find a good one in a sea of bad ones/find a complete alternative.

Oh. It's the essence of the common meaning of it, right?

Re: Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

#236

Post by zoobaloo »

thin_carapace wrote: post #133
slyall wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A thing you might want to consider is that how "good" a person is is largely independent from their level of religious faith. It is common for religious people to assume they are linked and that a religious person does good deeds because they are faithful while somebody who does bad deeds has less faith. Which leads to an assumption by some that atheists are have no morals and priest are exception good.

could you please explain your reason for posting this? it doesn't seem related to the preceding comment.

I was raised atheist/agnostic and was one for decades. Now that I'm not, I frequently get unsolicited comments like the one you're responding to. People assume that I haven't considered foundational tenets of my religion, or that they're the first ones to raise basic ethical questions after thousands of years of tradition, teaching, and catechism.

There's a noticeable difference between those who are concerned but care about what I think, and those who have already made up their minds that I'm ignorant. It's tough, especially when it surfaces in longstanding relationships. I've had friends and family jump to all kinds of crazy conclusions about what I believe and why.

I'm not perfect, and I often reflect on whether I'm setting a bad example or being a poor witness to something that's a powerful source of strength and charity. Many times I've fallen short, and I ask for forgiveness. Christ asks me to pick up my cross and follow Him, and I pray for the humility and discernment to do so.

Re: Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

#237

Post by spopejoy »

spudlyo wrote: post #19

So in case you're worried about watching a 35 minute video and wishing you hadn't, here is what I think is an interesting observation that the speaker starts coming around to at around the 7 minute mark. Why does software suck? Management often has other priorities, and isn't interested in doing the hard work required to increase the reliability and reduce the technical debt in software. Engineers who care about such…

The title is bad. Anything "-pilled" is incel speak until proven innocent

Re: Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

#238

Post by thin_carapace »

zoobaloo wrote: post #236
thin_carapace wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

could you please explain your reason for posting this? it doesn't seem related to the preceding comment.

I was raised atheist/agnostic and was one for decades. Now that I'm not, I frequently get unsolicited comments like the one you're responding to. People assume that I haven't considered foundational tenets of my religion, or that they're the first ones to raise basic ethical questions after thousands of years of tradition, teaching, and catechism. There's a noticeable difference between those who are concerned but ca…

its a gracious outlook of you, to assign ignorance as the root cause of this behaviour. to me that dude looks like any other proselytizer - a man attempting to sway others views, without concern for their concerns. although if you try showing atheist proselytizers how similar they behave to preachers, or indeed compare any of their behaviour to religious zealots, this inevitably short circuits the proselytizer viewpoint and forces fight mode, resulting in termination of any productive discussion.

at the end of the day people say a lot of things, and until life teaches how little words matter, people do care about words by default. it is only those understanding life who look past words to see what truly matters. everything that anything living does in this existence is inherently selfish, otherwise it wouldnt happen, based on science and neurochemistry. this seeming impediment to becoming christlike is not an insurmountable obstacle, rather a beautiful choice we are offered - to accept animality, or to humbly push through the impossible and seek something more ...

Re: Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

#239

Post by akerl_ »

jrflowers wrote: post #233
tptacek wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This objection doesn't make sense in the context of the thread.

It’s not an objection. Somebody said “[x thing] is impermanent” and the rebuttal you posted was “human life is also impermanent” That’s not really a rebuttal to the notion that everything is impermanent, that supports it. Anyway a wizened crone told me I’ll die on 11 September 2098, so let’s give me two weeks to gloat. Two weeks before that date. I will bet you that it happens on or before that date. Props for taking…

The danger of using quotation marks around things that aren't quotes is that you can wildly misstate what somebody said and readers are left to ponder if you just don't understand or if you're willfully trying to misrepresent them.

The reason a bet on this would need a date other than "ever" is because if one side of the bet can't be resolved until infinite time has passed, it just doesn't make any sense.

Re: Don't Take the Black Pill [video]

#240

Post by joshcsimmons »

slyall wrote: post #124
zoobaloo wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I can't speak to the universality or novelty of the world falling apart, I feel the same way. Some people aren't yet in a place to understand this perspective. Others have been hurt by Christians who failed to live their faith or were otherwise misguided in their actions or teachings. Some slander the faith based on ignorance or misunderstanding. We're called to forgive our enemies and respond with patience, hu…

A thing you might want to consider is that how "good" a person is is largely independent from their level of religious faith. It is common for religious people to assume they are linked and that a religious person does good deeds because they are faithful while somebody who does bad deeds has less faith. Which leads to an assumption by some that atheists are have no morals and priest are exception good.

laughably incorrect

one of the things i am very incapable of judging is whether someone is “good” or “bad”

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