"Data" Sucks

by JohnScolaroon 3/23/2025, 11:09 AMwith 8 comments

by brudgerson 3/23/2025, 5:50 PM

In ye olden days, the computer science term for data was often "table." [1]

The problem with "data" is it is the wrong abstraction layer for thinking about computation because structure is what separates data from random values -- there ain't no such thing as random data. If it's random it's not data. If it's data it's not random.

[1] I learned this reading Micheal Jackson...no not that one.

by ssivarkon 3/24/2025, 2:43 PM

This is basically the debate between Alan Kay and Rich Hickey... on HN, almost a decade ago :-)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11945722

The key idea is (bare) data -vs- objects (which encapsulate data and let you interpret/interact with it).

by Chinjuton 3/24/2025, 5:11 PM

Reading the post, it seems like what sucks is variables without readily accessible types.

by Rucadion 3/24/2025, 2:27 PM

buffer is also a candidate :)