As Ken Iverson noted in "Notation as a Tool of Thought"[1], yeah the syntax absolutely matters. The same program might resonate and make sense in one language but be incomprehensible if translated 1:1 in another.

Computer languages are for humans to understand and communicate.

1. https://www.eecg.utoronto.ca/~jzhu/csc326/readings/iverson.p...

Iverson's point is more regarding semantics than syntax, though. The only mention of syntax suggests its better for it to be simple (presumably so that the semantics are closer to the surface). Every programming language is a notation for describing computation; notation is a catch all for all three levels: orthography, syntax, and semantics. APL is interesting because it not only uses an unconventional syntax, but also an unconventional orthography (obligate usage of special symbols), and its semantics are different as well from most languages (array programming). Iverson's point is that APL as a notation is valuable for making the structure of certain computations obvious, and that this point generalizes across programming languages.

GingerBill's article is making a narrower claim: that semantics are what determines a good notation usually, not syntax.

> Iverson's point is that APL as a notation is valuable for making the structure of certain computations obvious,

Yes, very much so, where as usual, there are local maxima where each notation excels at representing some problems nicely and is awkward for others.

How does that happen? Was it an OEM bulk kind of deal where you were expected to write a new MAC for each NIC when deploying them?

> When someone suggested the answer was marketing: > jUsT dO mOrE mArKeTiNg!!!!!

This is a good point. If there's a problem reaching people because the information channel is saturated, the solution is to increase the information? And then everyone reaches the same conclusion and increases.

This destroys the channel. It's not a zero sum game. If everyone markets, nobody will make the sale because the customer will nope out and see nothing.

I find it interesting that current AI, as stellar as it is for language and even looking at writing in images, falls over hard when generating writing in images.

Why the locking difference on platforms?

I so want to run my os on ipad and save it from the ewaste bin.

iPads are cheaper than MacBooks and more popular. They'd rather prefer if you bought another one instead of using it indefinitely. The same with smartphones. The answer always has been: I like money!

This is a weird conspiracy theory because people don’t really do that with macs.

iPads and MacBooks are architecturally different devices with different purposes (but soon the difference may vanish). People tend to upgrade their phones/tablets more often than their PCs/laptops. Macs aren't locked down because they are designed NOT to be locked down. You can write drivers for macOS (otherwise it couldn't compete with Windows or Linux) but not for iPadOS.

That's weird response because people really did that with Macs. People used to run Windows (Boot Camp) on their Mac devices.

There were approximately 0 people extending the lifespan of their Mac by running Windows on it.

More recently, I loved how he killed it in Foundation. Another great casting for a great actor.

foundation has an incredible cast but even among such talent he's a clear outlier

Same with FF on Tahoe.

Also the audio is clicking hard, had to mute it.

Open source software will have a code repo with active development happening on it. That repo will usually link to official Web page and download places.

Not universal true. Open source just means that the code is avaiable, not that developement happens in the open. (But 7zip does have a github repo)

The fork with malware embedded could fairly easily apply most commits to the main repo in its public repo.

They could even have support pages that look real, by copying them from the legitimate site.

And the process of creating a repo that stays in sync with another fork can be automated, so, if needed, malware writers likely will do that.

> orange iPhone was pretty and the Pixel 10 was boring

I guess this is really important to people.

One time I broke an Android, which happened to be white, and spoke to the insurer for a replacement. The agent insisted she find me another white phone, not another Android, and though an iPhone was suitable. She couldn't grok how the OS and phone specs were more important than the color.

Right? Most people encase it in an opaque phone case anyway.

Consumers have the option to "refuse" products from irresponsible or predatory vendors: ones which brick or obsolete devices.

Vendors should at a minimum open source APIs for abandoned hardware and allow unlocking it. "Refuse" to buy from those that don't. Ask for legislation forcing it.

I have a wonderful old ipad mini that's useless. I'd love to jailbreak it and put my OS on there but Apple wants a new sale instead.