"Data" Sucks

  • In ye olden days, the computer science term for data was often "table." [1]

    The problem with "data" is it is the wrong abstraction layer for thinking about computation because structure is what separates data from random values -- there ain't no such thing as random data. If it's random it's not data. If it's data it's not random.

    [1] I learned this reading Micheal Jackson...no not that one.

  • This is basically the debate between Alan Kay and Rich Hickey... on HN, almost a decade ago :-)

    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11945722

    The key idea is (bare) data -vs- objects (which encapsulate data and let you interpret/interact with it).

  • Reading the post, it seems like what sucks is variables without readily accessible types.

  • buffer is also a candidate :)