[hubert123]

Regarding systemd: I guess I like the systemctl commandline interface, I wasnt around for the alternatives. (if there were any?) I like that part of systemd. I like the fairly easy to write service files. I'm not sure how it relates to booting an OS though.

Regarding programming languages: I think we absolutely need better programming languages, they are all still a joke to me. Rust sounded like the perfect language but then we all know what happened, same as c++. Personally I'm always surprised when somebody makes a new language and doesn't include a debugger or intellisense. It must be only me but it just shows a general disrespect or unawareness for me, the user you want to attract. You actually expect me to be productive with your language without them? C'mon.

> Essentially, people who write code are just glorified digital welders

Yep, that's actually what I think as well. Most programmers just don't think about the higher end goal, usability in the greater context of the OS or interaction design, simplicity, or even whether alternatives exist. They just see a job to do and they do it - often badly actually.

Honestly, it's not just about software development though but that's what I know best. E.g the first Apple iPhone comes to mind: Finally a product that was truly just good. In basically every single way, designed for the user. It was beautiful. Github comes to mind, it just worked. Immediately and it solved a need. Before we had sourceforge. Facebook was similar in my opinion, although the situation is more complex there.

> What should have been done - whip the developers into submission, force them to create a backward-compatible framework that supports everything, and make backend changes that do not affect the user in any way. That's how product-driven development is done

Haha, somebody speaks from experience. Yeah that's actually how it is done in enterprise development in my limited experience. You just have to be backwards compatible, end of story. Don't care how it's done, just do it.

> Why did smartphones succeed? Because they allowed a common person to do the same things they did on the PC cheaper and faster

Yep, and also because it allowed the common person to be connected while not having to sit hunched over at a PC. The internet and the PC are clearly great things but people want to live their lives and be connected. With smartphones they get to have both. Personally I will never agree with these weird "wow look at how sad all those people are, staring at their smartphones". I remind myself of the pictures of people in the 1900s where everyone at the train station was hunched over their newspapers.

[pitaj]

> then we all know what happened

What happened?

[spdionis]

I think the parent implied that it got quite complex, like c++, and he doesn't like the complexity.