Since the dawn of computer science, our understanding of computation has been shaped by mathematical theories, from Aristotle's logic to Turing's formalization of algorithms. Turing Machines, with their elegant abstraction of computation into discrete steps on an infinite tape, have become a cornerstone of computational theory. However, this mathematical approach, while powerful, lacks a crucial element: empirical testability.
TSM-6: Simplifying Lisp with Homoiconic C — All You Need is FOLD
Lisp has long been revered as the Platonic ideal of programming languages, its minimalist design where code and data share the same structure—lists—grants Lisp unmatched power and flexibility. But for all its elegance, Lisp’s strength also breeds complexity. Despite its simple syntax and aversion to assignment, Lisp still relies on a variety of special forms—like... Continue Reading →
TSM-4: Total Computing with Pres — The Future of Safe, Expressive Software
For decades, Turing-complete computing has been the bedrock of modern programming. While this has empowered developers to create powerful, general-purpose systems, it has also forced us to accept a troubling reality: bugs, crashes, and unpredictable behavior are often seen as inevitable. These issues are typically viewed as the price we pay for the flexibility and... Continue Reading →
TSM-1: The Shannon Machine — Better Than Turing Complete?
The Shannon Machine is a decider computational system which uses bit-level word operations (rather than high-level computation) to perform arithmetric. The goal is model practical computation in a way that is more realistic -- but still as formal -- as the Linear Bounded Automoton, which has a similar level of computational power.
From “Zombie Data” to “Smart Reports”
I call this "zombie data" because it: * Lacks any self-awareness * Doesn't remember where it came from * Has no relationship to its current context * Infects everyone it touches with that same mindlessness.
Solutions to Three of the World’s Hardest Problems
The Problems (Drawn from the list identified by Social Capital on December 15, 2018) Disrupting Programming Can we enable people who don’t know programming to build applications? Is there a way to structure, pipe, and manage data better? Disrupting Education Can we educate humans in interesting ways so that they learn to think in multi-disciplinary ways?... Continue Reading →
Whole-I-Ness: A New Job to Be Done for Christianity
In many ways, Western Christianity is now a solution in search of a problem. We are a victim of our own success, having effectively worked ourselves out of a job by eliminating the "pain points" of Judaism, paganism and animism while diffusing most of our benefits into the culture. Like a technology-centric startup, we now find... Continue Reading →
Stark Realty #20: Redemption
[The following is the final installment of a science-fiction serial I started writing at Matterport, where I worked from May to December of 2015. Someday I will get the rights to publish the entire story, but for now, enjoy this little vignette.] Stark Realty #20: Redemption “He didn’t kill your mother, Tanya.” panted the newly-arrived Jane Hathaway.... Continue Reading →
Can Startup Thinking Solve the Innovator’s Dilemma?
When I discussed theories about how and whether Apple has solved the Innovator's Dilemma, I neglected to mention my favorite theory: Institutionalizing Startup Thinking (IST) Apple has solved the Innovator's Dilemma by institutionalizing startup thinking. This is characterized brilliantly by an Andreessen Horowitz post on Why We Prefer Founding CEOs: The technology business is fundamentally the innovation... Continue Reading →
Has Apple Solved the Innovator’s Dilemma?
Last October, along with many other tributes to the late Apple co-founder, James Allworth claimed that Steve Jobs Solved the Innovator's Dilemma. His explanation is that Apple avoids the traditional pitfalls that stifle innovation because: Apple hasn't optimized its organization to maximize profit. Instead, it has made the creation of value for customers its priority. This... Continue Reading →
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