Jeroen Baert

In a few months, I'm doing a talk about how computing has lots its way, and I'm looking for input.

What irks you about working with computers (be it laptops / desktops / smartphones / ...) today?

For example: "every software is a subscription now, and we own nothing."

Mar 5 at 9:46pmElk
Show threadJannekeMar 5

@jbaert
Microsoft managed to stall progress and keep users dumb and in the dark for 30 years.

Where the idea of GNU, with Emacs was to give even secretaries a tool that would enable and encourage them to start programming, now users have come to think and accept that if a program doesn't support something, it's too bad, not possible. Freedom has been taken away, as has empowerment. People use and think of a computer as if it's a fancy typewriter and don't realize it's a universal machine. No automation. Shoving and and aiming a mouse pointer.

Something like Firefox, for example, is "open source", but it's not free software to me. Although there's even JavaScript on board, there isn't even a minibuffer. The user cannot control the program, the program still controls the user.

Show threadLinda Rose SmitMar 5
@janneke @jbaert so what to use iso firefox. Usable for nonnerds
Show threadJannekeMar 5

@lindarosesmit @jbaert
Yeah, I don't have an answer. There are several efforts to create a lisp-based browser that have a minibuffer, such as Nyxt...but it's not really there yet.

And when I say I'm a Lisp fan, I really mean modern lisp, ie, Scheme.

Show threadJannekeMar 5
@lindarosesmit @jbaert
So, good question; as the choice of browsers that we have that can do banking and taxes, the things most of us need to be able to do, is terrible.
Show threadLinda Rose SmitMar 5
@janneke @jbaert ill use firefox and wait. Enough challenges ahead still
Show threadReinout van SchouwenMar 5
@janneke
I've been browsing the web since before Netscape 1.0 and never once have I thought: I wish I had a minibuffer! (Whatever that is, probably my fault for never getting the hang of emacs, or vi for that matter.)
I do agree that scriptable apps are nice, but you'll have to accept that programming just is not for everyone.
@jbaert
Show threadJannekeMar 5

@reinouts @jbaert
A minibuffer for me is an explicit albeit GNU Emacs-centric metaphor for ultimate user empowerment.

All functions of the program are exposed to the user. All functions can be overrided by the user. Full freedom, full control, and empowerment.

I truly believe that programming will become an essential skill, like reading and writing.

Show threadJeroenMar 5
Cookie banners! This was not what the EU intended...
Show threadbebatjof 🇵🇸Mar 5

@jbaert I order groceries online by logging in at the supermarket website: annoying but makes sense to see my past orders. Then when the delivery is on their way, I get a message that I can follow their journey, but only in the app. As if that's impossible to show in a web browser??

Apps for everything. Why not mobile websites?

Show threadbebatjof 🇵🇸Mar 5

@jbaert also search results suck. (Yes I also think ddg sucks idk why).

AI slop everywhere. Click bait. Rage bait. Inaccessibility.

Uuuuugh.

Show threadReinout van SchouwenMar 5
@jbaert
Mainly that smartphones basically spy on you 24/7 and if you want something not running Apple or Google software, there are some big tradeoffs you have to accept.
Show threadjbeckersMar 6
@jbaert https://fireborn.mataroa.blog/blog/the-slow-death-of-the-power-user/ has lots of good points
The Slow Death of the Power User — fireborn

Show threadJeroen BaertMar 7
@jbeckers great piece
Show threadJoris MeysMar 6

@jbaert
We have orders of magnitude more calculation power and memory, but software still remains slow. One culprit is the data collection & "calling home", the other is framework built on framework built on framework, so the same operation needs way more calculations.

Also, software that stops working reliably without internet connection because "cloud".

Show threadXavierMar 6
@JorisMeys @jbaert yep, this 👆
Show threadXavierMar 6

@jbaert mostly things on the web:

1. Webshops that assume currency based on IP address with no way to change it.
2. Mandatory usage of certain government digital services that block any VPN so can’t be used safely.
3. Cookie banners.
4. Microsoft Teams.

Show threadHuman Ass EthenesMar 6
@jbaert Fairly obvious, but deserving: Often no isn't an option.
"Would you like to send us all of this data?"
"Yes", "Maybe Later"
Show threadLastOfThemMar 6
@jbaert everything seems to be a start-up businessplan focused on 10X growth and an exit strategy. Tools that have been well-maintained and stable for more than a decade are 'uncool' and 'old'. As digital infrastructure becomes more fundamental to society, we need to focus more on software that is designed to run and be maintained for decades. Not whatever the latest fad is that profit-driven vendors shove our way.
Show threadKristof Van LandschootMar 6
@jbaert the babysitting for security threats. I know there’s evil out there but that should not stop me to do whatever I want on the hardware I buy.
Show threadKristof Van LandschootMar 6
@jbaert that we prefer to be locked in to siloed architectures that are designed for profit making, instead of using open things that enable effective cooperation
Show threadA.A. DelafinMar 6
@jbaert
- Computers got more powerful, but the web became more bloated, so everything feels slow
- Fucking electron apps
- Everything AI, vibecoding, the complete insanity of it all - the literal version of the 'scientist were so preoccupied with wether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should' meme
- The yearly encryption/identity debates that we have to keep on having (and one they, the politicians will get it, and then we're fucked)
Show threadexuroMar 6
@jbaert The number of websites that mysteriously don't work on firefox, but work perfectly fine when spoofing the user agent as being chromium. (it's not that many but still happens often enough to really grind my gears)
Show threadexuroMar 6
@jbaert The first thing we see after boot is not a BASIC interpreter anymore.
Show threadTante FlorianMar 6
@jbaert Everything connected to the internet, serving you new things from the parent companies all the time. I hate that attention is the currency over here. Making everything designed to be addictive and constantly updating. I miss the days I would copy video games from a CD at my friends house and that would be the only thing I had on my PC for a while. The machine needs to leave me be.
Show threadbertschollaertMar 6
@jbaert Als ICT-coördinator op een secundaire school is het licht frustrerend dat we niet buiten Microsoft of Google kunnen, terwijl een kritische blik wel één van de kernwaarden is die we aan onze leerlingen willen meegeven...
Show threadbebatjof 🇵🇸Mar 7
@jbaert idk if this counts cause hardware: I want a smaller phone, one that fits in my hand. Apparently smartphones "can't be smaller" "because of the size of the battery". Have you seen iphones and their batteries? Anyone heard of power banks? I want more variation available. There are 300 models and brands and they all feel the same.
Show threadPieter-Jan SterkMar 8
@jbaert Waar vroeger programmeren creatieve en geniale oplossingen had voor computer limieten (hoe men vroeger Pokémon of Zelda op een minimale cartridge kreeg, de rekenkracht van de computers van de maanmissie's, ...) is het antwoord tegenwoordig vaak saai: meer rekenkracht er tegenaan gooien, verbinding met een externe server die het werk doet, AI in je product proppen en een meerkost ervoor vragen, ... Zelfde situatie met hardware, vroeger zijn er uitzinnige, gekke dingen gemaakt.
Show threadPieter-Jan SterkMar 8
@jbaert Tegenwoordig zijn alle computers "strak" en "minimaal" en kunnen ze alles! De charme van oude hardware is dat ze vaak maar één ding deden, maar ze deden dat éne dingen wel extreem goed en grondig.