mhoyeFeb 27, 2023
In 1900, in a book called The Evolution Of The Thermometer, 1592-1743, Henry Bolton described this long evolution as "encumbered with erroneous statements that have been reiterated with such dogmatism that they have received the false stamp of authority", a phrase that a lot of us in tech, I suspect, find painfully familiar.
Show threadmhoyeFeb 27, 2023

(It's a quick, fun read, if you want to get into some niche science history, by the way: https://books.google.ca/books?id=7A9JAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

... and features the sort of magnificent, vaguely backhanded illustrations you only see in really old texts. Here's Dalence, noted scientist and inventor of the late 1600s, looking for all the world like a costumed fop angry at somebody for interrupting him in the middle of a huge bong rip. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mhoye/52715684205/in/dateposted/

Evolution of the Thermometer, 1592-1743

Google Books
Show threadmhoyeFeb 27, 2023
Today, of course, outside of the most extreme margins - things get pretty dicey down in the quantum froth around absolute zero and when your energy densities are way up past the plasmas - these questions are behind us. Thermometers are real, temperatures can be very precisely measured, and that has enabled a universe of new possibilities across physics and chemistry and through metallurgy to medicine to precision manufacturing, too many things to mention.
Show threadmhoyeFeb 27, 2023

The _practice of computation_, as a field, is less than a century old. We measure the things we can measure, usually the things that are easy to measure, but at the intersection of humans and computers, the most important part of the exercise, this field is still deeply & dogmatically superstitious. The false stamps of authority are everywhere.

I mean, look at this. Look at it.

https://www.scaledagileframework.com/

... And try to tell me that isn't occultist kabbalism delivered via powerpoint.

SAFe 5.0 Framework

Learn about the seven core competencies that make up the SAFE 5.0 Framework.

Scaled Agile Framework
Show threadmhoyeFeb 27, 2023

On Tuesday, April 25, and Wednesday, April 26, It Will Never Work in Theory is running our third live event: a set of lightning talks from leading software engineering researchers on immediate, actionable results from their work.

I want to introduce you to the people building the thermometers of modern software engineering.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/it-will-never-work-in-theory-tickets-527743173037

It Will Never Work in Theory

Want to learn what we actually know about software engineering? These lightning talks will tell you what researchers have discovered.

Eventbrite
Show threadmhoyeFeb 27, 2023

Some of last year's highlights include the introduction of novel techniques like Causal Testing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDqrwyV4I4 - supercharging DB test suites with SQLancer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLKTILnVasg - and two approaches for debugging neural nets - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LekgPnRt1g - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L8t3OldBfc

These aren't hypothetical future someday ideas. These are tools you can start using now. That's the goal.

Brittany Johnson-Matthews: Causal testing: understanding the root causes of defects

YouTube
Show threadmhoye

Boosts and reposts to other forums are, of course, appreciated.

I hope to see you there.

https://neverworkintheory.org/

It Will Never Work in Theory · It Will Never Work in Theory

Feb 27, 2023 at 6:55pmWeb
Show threadmhoyeFeb 27, 2023
The blog post: https://exple.tive.org/blarg/2023/02/27/never-work-in-theory-spring-2023/
Never Work In Theory, Spring 2023 | blarg

Show threadhapaxFeb 28, 2023
@mhoye "...but: the tool worked, and if there’s one thing in tech that we all know and fear, it’s that there’s nothing quite as permanent as something temporary that works." 🔥🎤🎼🚒