Jan DMar 3

"Reducing typing" seems to be an important value for some software developers. Is there some material origin to this? I.e. was too much typing ever a problem itself?
(Triggered by an add for an LLM that announced that programmers need to type less code, but the idea is not new)

#programming #history #efficiency

Show threadAndy WoottonMar 3
@simulo When I learned to code, variable names were kept short to save memory and boys didn't learn to type, so there was some sense in that idea but compilers have improved, memory is huge and everyone learns to type in primary school. Are the LLMs reading old books about FORTRAN IV?
Show threadJan DMar 4

@woo That is interesting – I was unaware that boys did not learn to type, but girls did!

( @Felienne might find this interesting, too)

Show threadFelienne Hermans
@simulo @woo I don't have sources but anecdotally, for sure! In the Netherlands (pre)teens could often get typing classes in school outside of classes. And since girls were assumed to later become typists/secretaries etc, they would often be enrolled in such programs.
Mar 4 at 10:04amWeb