Comment by rhizome
4 years ago
And if the entire purpose of computer programming is to control and/or reduce complexity, I should think the discipline would be embarrassed with the direction in which the industries have been going the past several years. AWS alone should serve as an example.
> And if the entire purpose of computer programming is to control and/or reduce complexity
I honestly don’t know where you got that idea from. I always thought the whole point of computer programming was to solve problems. If it makes things more complex as a result, then so be it. Just as long as it creates fewer, less severe problems than it solves.
What are some examples of complex solutions to simple problems? That is, where a solution doesn't result in a reduction of complexity? I can't find any.
And this is where the increased complexity is necessary for a solution, not just Perl Anti-golf or FactoryFactory Java jokes.
More complex systems are liable to create more complex problems...
I don't think you can get away from this - yes, can solve a problem, but if you model problems as entropy, increasing complexity increases entropy.
It's like the messy room problem - you can clean your room (arguably high entropy state), but unless you are exceedingly careful doing so increases entropy. You merely move whatever mess to the garbage bin, expend extra heat, increase your consumption in your diet, possibly break your ankle, stress your muscles...
Arguably cleaning your room is important, but decreasing entropy? That's not a problem that's solvable, not in this universe.
> but unless you are exceedingly careful doing so increases entropy
In an isolated system, entropy can only increase. Moving at all heats up the air. Even if you are exceedingly careful, you increase entropy when doing any useful work.