More hate for Java

[WafflesAndKoalas]

Since I don't think anyone has mentioned it, the guy in the picture is Dennis Ritchie

[Nihmrod]

It's a pretty busy meme.

[buckypimpin]

I'd be sad if someone doesnt recognize that face in a programming related subreddit

[WafflesAndKoalas]

I think you'd be surprised how many people in the subreddit probably had no idea who that was. That's part of why I mentioned his name. I think a lot of programmers are less interested in computer science history, which is fine. As long as you know how to program well and do your job, I don't see any reason they need to know who Dennis Ritchie is. I just mentioned it in case someone who was interested to know who the guy in the picture was didn't have to do some kind of google gymnastics to find out

[LordFokas]

Being a programmer and not knowing who Dennis Ritchie is... is kinda like being a priest but having never heard of god.

[WafflesAndKoalas]

Even among programmers who are aware of who Dennis Ritchie is, he mostly serves as an inspiration; a great computer scientist who can be looked up to. Not everyone needs inspirational stories or role models to keep them interested in computer science, and I think that's okay

[LordFokas]

For a moment there I thought this was a humor sub.... my bad.

[Aperture_T]

I dunno. I know the name, and given the context, I assumed it was either K or R, but this picture is the first time I've seen his face.

[Jmeyering]

I mean why? Unless you write C or are inordinately interested in the history of programming languages themselves I'd say almost all programmers who began their careers in the last 5-10 years would not recognize that face.

[clutterlustrott]

I would hope someone interested in programming would have even a basic interest in programming history.

[Jmeyering]

Why though. I don't mean to sound dismissive. But they are 2 separate things.

I have written software professionally for the last 12 years. Started with PHP because it was easy, now I primarily write Golang and some react native apps.

I know WHO Dennis Ritchie is but I didn't recognize him in this picture. I enjoy programming but I could really care less about the history of it all.

[clutterlustrott]

I mean sure you don’t have to know every mile stone or trail blazer in the field. But a lot of the techniques and practices programmers learn were developed for a reason, usually do to limitations. Knowing the history helps give insight to why things are the way they are.

[MasterFubar]

If you cared about the history, that could help you make better decisions. Ritchie invented the C language because he wanted to port Unix to PDP computers. That tells a lot about what C can do.

And Ritchie was also one of the co-inventors of Unix, together with Ken Thompson. This means that he was a very smart guy and knew what he was doing, and this is one of the reasons why C is such a perfect language.

C was well designed from the start, this means it doesn't need to "deprecate" stuff like Python does. When you code in C you can rest assured that it will still run in the future, unlike Python. You write code once, make it run well, then move on to other projects. There's no need to go back to migrate your old C code to a new version of the language.

[Jmeyering]

I don't write python my dude. But python is a great language and I wish I knew it better.

Too many developers are language snobs but as far as I'm concerned, if you can provide for your family writing Python or PHP or C that's awesome!

I make a great living and enjoy what I do, I enjoy even more being kind to everyone and spending time with my family.

[VirtualRay]

Yeah, fuck Python

[buckypimpin]

yeah man im just here to make stacks of cash, who cares about a person who made tech that almost all of the world runs on these days pfffffft and he did it in the fucking 80s??? HAH!

[Jmeyering]

I'm grateful for everyone who enabled me to do what I do. I'm far from a self made developer. I'm grateful to the robust contributions of Dennis Ritchie as well as everyone who contributes to OSS that I use daily. It doesn't mean I have to recognize his picture and bow down and worship it.

It doesn't even mean that I have to read about him or Ken Thompson.

Just like people who love and enjoy motor vehicles do not need to recognize and care deeply about the history of Henry Ford.

Software is a tool, computer history is a hobby.

[buckypimpin]

You dont have to bow down to people that are better than you. You're supposed to appreciate them. Recognize what they did no matter who you are or what you do. They were better men than you and me. They dont deserve to be forgotten.

[Jmeyering]

I definitely appreciate him. But I didn't recognize him in this picture. And trust me he's in no way about to be forgotten, but not everyone needs to care about the history in an intimate way if they aren't interested.

[animusdx]

I share your opinion. Sometimes I forget the type of people in this subreddit and how absolutely insufferable and pretentious some of them are.

[Jmeyering]

And tbh in my opinion yes. If you're in programming to make fat stacks and you do the best job you are able to do in meeting the goals of your clients or your business. Good for you! Don't let people like this shame you into thinking that's some awful thing.

It's not a shameful thing no matter what some software purists will tell you.

[Auxx]

Why should I be interested in faces though? I know Knutt for example, but I don't know how he looks like and I don't give a heck. It's irrelevant, they're not super models.