Meanwhile, 55 years ago

[tymwol@hachyderm.io]

@thomasfuchs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GibiNy4d4gc

[thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io]

I highly recommend reading this book, it’s extremely relevant today—notably it doesn’t matter what your stance is on “AI”.

Programming is an inherently human and social activity; it doesn’t matter if you’re a solo programmer, working with a team or using chatbots, or a combination of all of this.

[spzb@infosec.exchange]

@thomasfuchs as an industry we really excel at reinventing the wheel

[flipper@mastodonapp.uk]

@thomasfuchs they're not going to fall for that again

[gizmo@butts.team]

@thomasfuchs indeed; @grimalkina has a book coming out soon about psychology of programming teams that has some recent research as well

[thief_of_fire@infosec.exchange]

@thomasfuchs and executives don't read anything

[terryhancock@realsocial.life]

@thomasfuchs

AI prompts are the latest generation in "do what I mean" programming languages.

Usually such languages sacrifice precision of expression for "common sense" understanding, and then expect the compiler (chatbot) to inject the common sense.

Sadly, I have learned there is no such thing as "common sense". The common sense of the lawyer is quite different from that of the machinist. There is only "domain knowledge". Which requires that the programmer shares this at least somewhat with the client -- or in a pinch, willing to learn it.

History has not been kind to the ambition of automating this part.

[kirch@tilde.zone]

@thomasfuchs if only more organizations made Programming a Social Activity instead of an Antisocial one.

[ppxl@social.tchncs.de]

@thomasfuchs and here we are, again. With the help of our friend, AI

[billysmith@social.coop]

@thomasfuchs

TY for the recc.

[endlessmason@hachyderm.io]

@thomasfuchs

[grimalkina@mastodon.social]

@Gizmo @thomasfuchs I read Weinberg as part of my pre-book research. Some nice team stuff, a great counter to the pretty individualistic models of other books of the era. Pretty outdated psych theories though! As evidenced by the somewhat shocking mention of "latent homosexuality" that I can't believe they didn't edit out in later editions. Anyway, I hope mine is a good update. A big reference list to browse comes with it!

[thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io]

@grimalkina @Gizmo obviously has to be seen as an artifact of its time! looking forward to your book

[missconstrue@mefi.social]

@thomasfuchs @blogdiva

The fact that I can read and decipher cobol, plus the fact that menopause has provided neck hair, ie proto neckbeard, y’all…I may have become a Tech Final Boss. 🥳‍️

[rupert@mastodon.nz]

@thomasfuchs One of the advantages I have in not falling for the current "AI" scam is that I have *twice* been employed by companies that promised people they could write programs without programmers.
Mostly I was employed to clean up the ensuing mess, but it remains an attractive idea to people who don't know the history of it.

[jrdepriest@infosec.exchange]

@thomasfuchs

It's on archive.org

https://archive.org/details/psychologyofcomp0000wein

[angiebaby@mas.to]

@thomasfuchs

(Direct link to a PDF download.)

https://z-library.sk/dl/zwXmdmV2Z1

[paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange]

@thomasfuchs

hell, most executives don't even read reports or emails, much less lots of code.