The Digital Press

Bret Victor's "The Future of Programming" reflects on historical programming paradigms, funding influences, and the importance of maintaining humility and openness in software development.

Why it matters: It urges programmers to avoid complacency and to remain flexible, embracing new ideas rather than clinging to outdated methods.

The big picture: The evolution of programming was shaped by early resistance to abstraction, funding shifts, and a pre-paradigm phase before consensus on core problems.

Quick takeaway: True creativity requires skepticism of accepted knowledge, using tools without blindly accepting them, to foster innovative problem-solving.

Commenters say: Many resonate with the call for open-mindedness and see parallels to contemporary challenges, noting the enduring relevance of Victor’s insights.