Christopher Alexander has died
1–10 of 139 posts
Re: Christopher Alexander has died
#2The most influential person in architecture and software whose influence is difficult to point to.
Re: Christopher Alexander has died
#3Massive PDF of A Pattern Language: https://arl.human.cornell.edu/linked%20docs/Alexander_A_Patt...
But I recommend owning and reading it in print. Great book to dip in and out of at whim.
Re: Christopher Alexander has died
#4Massive PDF of A Pattern Language: https://arl.human.cornell.edu/linked%20docs/Alexander_A_Patt... But I recommend owning and reading it in print. Great book to dip in and out of at whim.
Agreed - it is a great bathroom or subway book, because you can pop into it randomly for 4 minutes and read a section, and then go on with your day.
Re: Christopher Alexander has died
#5Saw him speak at Berkeley around the time his book on the Eshin project was released. Talked in very strong terms about the importance of working in a holistic, caring way.
A SWE in the audience spoke up, saying basically "look, we want to follow that approach, but it's hard, we have a lot of stakeholders to satisfy in order for a project to happen."
Alexander was unyielding. "Once you've worked with love, you won't want to work in any other way."
YMMW on the practicality of his advice, but it was super inspiring.
Re: Christopher Alexander has died
#6This video of him from 1996 is amazing with hindsight. A must watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98LdFA-_zfA
RIP Christopher Alexander
Re: Christopher Alexander has died
#7I suggest that anyone interested in his work reads part I of "The Patterns of Software" by Richard Gabriel. https://www.dreamsongs.com/Files/PatternsOfSoftware.pdf
In my opinion, Gabriel has a better and deeper understanding of Christopher Alexander's pattern language and how it can be applied to software than the whole Software Pattern movement which created a very different interpretation of patterns.
Re: Christopher Alexander has died
#8> There is a central quality which is the root criterion of life and spirit in a man, a town, a building, or a wilderness. This quality is objective and precise, but it cannot be named. [...] It is not only simpler beauty of form and color. Man can make that without making nature. It is not only fitness to purpose. Man can make that too, without making nature. And it is not only the spiritual quality of beautiful music or of a quiet mosque, that comes from faith. Man can make that too, without making nature.
> The quality which has no name includes these simpler sweeter qualities. But it is so ordinary as well, that it somehow reminds us of the passing of our life.
> It is a slightly bitter quality.
- Christopher Alexander, The Timeless Way of Building
Re: Christopher Alexander has died
#9Massive PDF of A Pattern Language: https://arl.human.cornell.edu/linked%20docs/Alexander_A_Patt... But I recommend owning and reading it in print. Great book to dip in and out of at whim.
I don't remember which volume it was from, but doing any general maintenance I always remember this suggestion of his:
Work on the most neglected area first -- e.g., work on the most neglected outdoor area of a property first.
I don't recall his specific reasoning, but in my mind the essence was: Otherwise you will be acting on displacement anxiety and When an eyesore is taken care of first, your perspective on potential other improvements will change.
RIP
Re: Christopher Alexander has died
#10What a sad day. Never met him personally. But from what I heard this man’s influence has reached from architecture all the way to Wikipedia and Tesla. Unthinkable how different our world today would be if it hadn’t been for his work. May he rest in peace. And may his ideas continue to live, and mingle, and add color to our world.