The first computer to visit my home was there in 1972. The first to stay, 1977. Was doing simple hardware and software work in the 1980s. Began using open source software in 1991. On the internet since 1992. Nothing holds me back in using computers worse than inadequate documentation.
I contributed better documentation in the past. The field changed and my past work helps no one now. I struggle to keep up, as all do, but now I know if I help with documentation (a) it is fleeting, which is acceptable if discouraging, and (b) the noise to signal ratio in online documentation is too loud to compete with. I will help myself and help people in person but I see no way to help over all.
There was a time when a man could read every printed book on the planet. There weren’t many. That stopped being possible long ago. Knowing all there is to know to make a computer and put software on it, that is done but not much. And I’d say no one anywhere knows what it takes to make all the hardware and software for a simple smart phone. The whole field shuts out the individual now. It is no fun any more.
The first computer to visit my home was there in 1972. The first to stay, 1977. Was doing simple hardware and software work in the 1980s. Began using open source software in 1991. On the internet since 1992. Nothing holds me back in using computers worse than inadequate documentation.
I contributed better documentation in the past. The field changed and my past work helps no one now. I struggle to keep up, as all do, but now I know if I help with documentation (a) it is fleeting, which is acceptable if discouraging, and (b) the noise to signal ratio in online documentation is too loud to compete with. I will help myself and help people in person but I see no way to help over all.
There was a time when a man could read every printed book on the planet. There weren’t many. That stopped being possible long ago. Knowing all there is to know to make a computer and put software on it, that is done but not much. And I’d say no one anywhere knows what it takes to make all the hardware and software for a simple smart phone. The whole field shuts out the individual now. It is no fun any more.