Coding as Control

22 Jun 2026 - 22 Jun 2026
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    • If the computer is a universal control system, let's give kids universes to control
    • I've realized for a long time that the appeal of doing computer shit is being in control of this imaginary little universe, that operates by its own rules which are barely understandable. When you make software, you get to make the rules and the universe. It's a giddy feeling and the psychology that makes it appealing is pretty obvious (also the spectrum-ish qualities).
    • Lisp and visual programming. Making it even more direct.
    • Now along comes AI, which undoes all that. Rather than being up to your elbows in a complex system that is in theory completely understandable, you give vague instructions to a pile of statistics that nobody understands. It will write the code for you. You might check it over but the feeling of solving a puzzle is gone. That's no longer your job. You are at best a manager of a bunch of these idiot savant agents.
    • I don't want to take up any of the usual AI positions. Coding is fun but nobody is guaranteed fun, and if I like coding for fun there are ample opportunities to do it.
    • Meta
      • this is boring.