Funny one 🤓
https://bsky.app/profile/bmann.ca/post/3kzcyksddj22u
Nostr has PHP vibes with which I couldn't agree on more nostr:npub1wmr34t36fy03m8hvgl96zl3znndyzyaqhwmwdtshwmtkg03fetaqhjg240 ;)
#PHP
Funny one 🤓
https://bsky.app/profile/bmann.ca/post/3kzcyksddj22u
Nostr has PHP vibes with which I couldn't agree on more nostr:npub1wmr34t36fy03m8hvgl96zl3znndyzyaqhwmwdtshwmtkg03fetaqhjg240 ;)
#PHP
I was at a dinner a couple nights ago with brian.behlendorf.com & Kevin Kelly who both helped start Wired Magazine, and a bunch of other interesting folks.
Brian made this point that when it comes to complex software systems worse is better. Referring to the essay on the subject from the early 90’s: https://dreamsongs.com/WorseIsBetter.html
The idea is that simpler systems that are easier to evolve tend to win over top down strongly architectured systems that tend to be inflexible.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worse_is_better
Nostr has the characteristics of the “worse” technologies that often win. HTML is worse than XML and Hypertext. JavaScript is worse than Java. TCP/IP is worse than OSI! We don’t remember that TCP/IP was the scrappy underdog protocol that the government tried to kill because they wanted their properly designed OSI protocols for the internet! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_Wars
Twitter itself was worse, it’s a kind of minimalist thing which was powerfully extensible. The original Twitter api docs were a single page long. The original oauth spec was 6 pages long.
Worse is a better way to build technology to change the world.
This is such an interesting and intigruing way how software in a ecosystem evolves. It really fits my way of working as well (go with the flow, embrace friction and uncertainties). I love pragmatic and structured approaches but within an ecosystem where there is plenty of room for chaos and flexibility. This creates a space where I just can do my own thing (whatever that may be). I agree that more strictness kills creativity (and even humanity).
Would be awesome to have some chats on this topic with you at Nostriga!
In the context of worse is better 🧐
Book: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691257167/middle-tech
Interview with the author: https://overcast.fm/+AAKXY_OKgDU