Posted on 5th of September 2023
| 661 words
Summer months went by fast when you had lot on your hands. Didn’t feel like
keeping the reading log up to date during these months, so I’ll just do one
big post-summer update here.
Aldous Huxley: Brave New World (reread)
On May, I seemed to be rereading bunch of classics especially with the
common theme of dystopian future. Why you might ask? That I don’t know,
maybe something inside me just thinks that future depicted in these classics
is inevitable. Brave New World is probably one of my favorite books ever
written. Wonderful vision of advanced utopia, but at what cost? Masterful
critique of the dehumanizing effects of a highly controlled and
pleasure-driven society challenges readers to reflect on the consequences of
sacrificing personal freedom for comfort and conformity.
George Orwell: 1984 (reread)
Continuing on the series of dystopia and nightmarish tales of possible
future. Tale about the dangers of totalitarianism and government
surveillance. Serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding
individual freedoms, critical thinking, and truth itself.
William Golding: Lord of the Flies (reread)
More classics! Compelling exploration of human nature and the thin veneer of
civilization that separates order from chaos.
J.D. Sallinger: The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye was, one of many, classics that I hadn’t read before
and to be honest, wasn’t a huge fan of it. Maybe since I read this as a
little bit older. Don’t know. Topics in this book was really interesting,
considering teenager alienation, identity etc. While Holden’s struggles in
his adolescent were definitely unique, I just felt more annoyed about him
that anything else.
Jacques Ellul: The Technological Society
Jacques Ellul: Propaganda: The Formation of Men’s Attitudes
Ted Kaczynski: Industrial Society and Its Future
Ted Kaczynski: Anti-Tech Revolution: Why and How
Every once in a while my inner luddite wakes up and I start hating
everything about technology. Reading Jacques Ellul was definitely part of
this, but this time it was mainly the death of Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski,
that brought me to him. While I don’t agree/support on what Ted Kaczynski
did, he had some great points about how technology affects us. Ellul was
many ways inspiration for him in these sort of anti-technology philosophies
and it affection on humans. But Kaczynski and Ellul had one big difference
between them, Ellul was a pacifist were as Kaczynski was a domestic
terrorist.
Nonetheless, all of these books make some great points about technology so
despite your opinion about it, these are definitely worth a read.
Cormac McCarthy: The Road
Cormac McCarthy: No Country for Old Men
During the summer unfortunately we had a couple of passings of great
authors, one of which were Cormac McCarthy. I had never read his books
before, but I was familiar with as a movie from (No Country for Old Men by
Coen Brothers) and I had heard great things about his writing. So I grabbed
a copy of The Road and No Country for Old Men, since those were quite highly
recommended. And the recommendations were definitely true.
The Road offers a haunting depiction of post-apocalyptic America and the
struggles of father and son in this world. Immersing in bleak landscape
where hope and love endure against all odds. No Country for Old Men delves
into the realms of crime, fate, and the inexorable consequences of one’s
choices.
Both of these works showcase McCarthy’s masterful storytelling, unique
narrative styles, and philosophical depth, making them essential reads for
those interested in literature that explores the human condition in its most
challenging and thought-provoking forms.
Richard P. Gabriel: Patterns of Software
Richard P. Gabriel is a pretty known name in the software world and
especially in the Lisp world. One of the famous writings of Richard P.
Gabriel is the concept of “Worse Is
Better”
.
Patterns of Software gives a great look into software design, programming
and business around it. Definitely a must read for everyone working in this
industry.
Posted on 28th of July 2023
| 519 words
In the vast and ever-evolving landscape of software development, programming
languages play a pivotal role in how developers interact with computers and
build applications. While a plethora of well-established programming languages
exist, there has always been an intriguing curiosity and desire among some
developers, including myself, to embark on the quest of creating our own
languages.
Existing programming languages come with their own set of strengths and
weaknesses. However, they may not always cater optimally to specific domains
or problem sets. This has been a driving force for many language creators who
seek full control over the language’s semantics. Building a new language
offers the opportunity to tailor the language’s features and syntax,
empowering developers and teams to solve certain classes of problems more
efficiently compared to existing solutions.
However, it is essential to acknowledge that creating a new language is no
easy task. Beyond the initial development, considerations for onboarding other
developers and promoting adoption must be taken into account. Moreover, when
considering building a language within a company setting, one must be mindful
of potential monetary implications.
The decision to build a new programming language should not solely be driven
by pragmatic concerns; it is also an intellectually stimulating exercise. The
process involves delving into various aspects of language design, including
syntax, semantics, and the implementation of the compiler or interpreter.
Aspiring language creators gain a deeper understanding of computer science
principles and enhance their problem-solving skills through this complex
undertaking.
Throughout my journey in the world of computer science, I have dabbled in
creating multiple toy compilers. Though they may not have been groundbreaking,
they ignited my curiosity about compiler implementation. Despite having
explored various compilers and interpreters of varying complexity, I felt a
lingering sense of not fully comprehending the intricacies occurring under the
hood.
Fortuitously, the summer provided a respite from my regular work commitments,
granting me the perfect opportunity to embark on a more serious attempt at
building a language from scratch. This time, I was determined to delve deep
into the intricate details of lexing, parsing, and code generation. This
ambitious undertaking offered an exciting challenge, and I was eager to
explore uncharted territories in language design.
The journey of building a new programming language is undoubtedly exciting and
rewarding, fueled by an array of motivations. Whether it is optimizing
performance to meet specific demands, addressing domain-specific challenges,
or simply exploring innovative language design paradigms, language creation is
a conduit for personal growth and innovation.
As the development of my language progresses, I anticipate gaining a more
comprehensive understanding of how programming languages shape our
interactions with computers and applications. I hope that my creation, like
many others in the world of programming languages, will contribute to the
diversity of tools available to developers, enabling them to craft exceptional
solutions tailored to their unique needs.
In conclusion, the decision to build a new programming language should be
approached with a blend of curiosity, pragmatism, and enthusiasm. It is a
journey that fosters personal growth, deepens technical understanding, and
holds the potential to revolutionize the way developers solve problems and
interact with computers.
Posted on 16th of July 2023
| 312 words
I stumbled upon a fun-sounding challenge from Werner Vogels'
blog
so I wanted to partake in it personally. The challenge was to list
your favourite album for every year of your life with a restriction of
only one album per year and no repeats of artists.
Here is my list:
1995: Alice in Chains, Alice in Chains
1996: Type O Negative, October Rust
1997: Deftones, Around the Fur
1998: Neutral Milk Hotel, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1999: Sleep, Jerusalem (Dopesmoker)
2000: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
2001: B.R.M.C., Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
2002: Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf
2003: Songs: Ohia, The Magnolia Electric Co.
2004: MF DOOM, MM...FOOD
2005: Boris, Pink
2006: Tool, 10,000 Days
2007: Porcupine Tree, Fear of a Blank Planet
2008: Have a Nice Life, Deathconsciousness
2009: Them Crooked Vultures, Them Crooked Vultures
2010: Nails, Unsilent Death
2011: Gillian Welch, The Harrow & the Harvest
2012: Death Grips, The Money Store
2013: Jason Isbell, Southeastern
2014: Swans, To Be Kind
2015: Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
2016: Gojira, Magma
2017: Slowdive, Slowdive
2018: Anna Von Hausswolff, Dead Magic
2019: Justin Townes Earle, The Saint of Lost Causes
2020: Lianne La Havas, Lianne La Havas
2021: Silk Sonic, An Evening with Silk Sonic
2022: Weyes Blood, And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow
2023: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, PetroDragonic Apocalypse (as of July 2023)
Challenge turned out to be quite hard for me since most of my
favourite artists and albums are from time before my birth, but I
managed to find something for each year. Especially difficult aspect
was leaving great albums out. Rule of no repeats of artists didn’t
make it easier either. Most likely I missed some great artists/albums
so this list most likely just represents how I currently feel.
Posted on 10th of June 2023
| 522 words
I’ve been a longtime fan of Julie Evans’
writing
and recently stumbled upon a great post of her called Some blogging
myths
which
inspired to me write something about the same topic.
I have always seen blogging or personal websites as this powerful
platforms for self-expression, enabling people from all walks of life
to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the whole wide
world. Beyond that, I’ve never really given too much thought to it.
While it’s true that if you happen to be some sort of artist, or even
a blogger, that uses his site for some capitalistic reasons,
attracting traffic and engagement is important. This can be seen today
in social media. This basically means that people tend to approach
blogging nowadays from this mindset. Meaning, that they are only able
to write about topics that are popular or, especially in tech world,
about topics that they consider themselves being an expert in.
Now I don’t say that you shouldn’t write about these sort of topics if
you really happen to be expert in the field in question. But, limiting
the topics solely to topics that are likely to generate traffic, you
most likely inadvertently stifle your own authenticity. Blog should be
a place for you to have freedom to explore diverse subjects that just
happens to pique your interest. By doing so, you invite your readers
into a genuine and vulnerable space where they can connect with you on
a deeper level.
This sort of safe haven fosters a certain trust and connection with
your audience. When you write about wide range of topics, even those
outside your comfort zone, you invite readers who share those interest
or experience to engage with you. This way you create an inclusive
environment where your audience can feel heard and understood
strengthening the bond between you and them.
While first and foremost blog is mainly about your voice but at the
same time it’s also about providing a platform for other to share
their stories and experiences. Embracing a wide range of topics sparks
conversations that can educate, enlighten, and inspire everyone
involved.
I don’t say that if your blog is dedicated to a either popular or very
niche topic would be a bad thing. If that’s something that you enjoy,
godspeed. The way I see it is that if I would limit the topics
written in my blog, I would inadvertently hinder my own personal
growth as a writer and individual. Exploring new subjects, especially
those that you’re by no mean an expert of, allows you to expand your
knowledge, learn from others, and develop new skills. Possibly it can
also help you to discover hidden passions and uncover something new
about yourself.
When you write about anything that sparks your interest, you also
demonstrate that it’s okay to write about anything and to step outside
the boundaries of popular opinion or expertise, you empower
individuals to express themselves more authentically in their own
spheres. This sort of vulnerability and explorations can serve as an
inspiration and catalyst for others to break free from limitations and
embrace their true selves.
Posted on 1st of June 2023
| 224 words
Not so long ago, Geoffrey Hinton, another “godfather of AI”, raised
his concerns about the future of AI and his own feelings towards
it
.
Now it seems, another “godfather of AI”, is feeling lost with his
work
He is the second of the so-called three “godfathers” of AI, known
for their pioneering work in the field, to voice concerns about the
direction and the speed at which it is developing. […]
Prof Bengio told the BBC he was concerned about “bad actors” getting
hold of AI, especially as it became more sophisticated and powerful.
“It might be military, it might be terrorists, it might be somebody
very angry, psychotic. And so if it’s easy to program these AI
systems to ask them to do something very bad, this could be very
dangerous.
“If they’re smarter than us, then it’s hard for us to stop these
systems or to prevent damage,” he added. Prof Bengio admitted those
concerns were taking a personal toll on him, as his life’s work,
which had given him direction and a sense of identity, was no longer
clear to him. “It is challenging, emotionally speaking, for people
who are inside [the AI sector],” he said. “You could say I feel
lost. But you have to keep going and you have to engage, discuss,
encourage others to think with you.”