Re: [tlug] Fortran --> Python (was linux engineer)

[Attila Kinali <attila@example.com>]

On Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:43:14 +0900
"Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen@example.com> wrote:

> Oh, I know a lot of (non-CIS ;-) scientists with *serious* programming
> technique.  What I meant is that with Python it's now *possible* for
> scientists without much programming skill to get started on hacking
> scientific programming.

Sometimes i wonder, whether lowering the entrance barrier is a good thing.
Yes, usually the exposer to more people give a higher probability of
a good outcome. But the SNR seriuosly degrades. On the other hand,
i actually like to have tools that are easy and intuitive to use,
which at the same time has the effect of lowering the entrance barrier.

I dont want to imagine what will happen in a few years, when computers
enter our blood stream but joe average still doesn't know anyhting
about what a computer can do and what not.. and doesn't care either way..
Will technology become magic? Or will we become the first Morlocks?

			Attila Kinali

-- 
It is upon moral qualities that a society is ultimately founded. All 
the prosperity and technological sophistication in the world is of no 
use without that foundation.
                 -- Miss Matheson, The Diamond Age, Neil Stephenson