How Computing Abstractions Can Obscure Understanding and Blind Developers
By
James Ludwell-Grymes
28d ago· 3 min readenInsight
75/100
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Summary
This article reflects on how abstractions in computing, while making programming more accessible, can obscure understanding of underlying systems. It contrasts the early days of computing when deep machine knowledge was essential due to high costs and limited resources, with the modern era where lower barriers to entry and increased computational power have led developers to rely on abstractions that may reduce fidelity of understanding and blind them to important details.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledIn the world of computing, we tend to abstract away complexity. Doing so seems liberating.
Unfortunately, in doing so, the fidelity of our understanding often decreases. We sometimes end up blinding ourselves.
Knowing the intricacies of how the machine operated was essential. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to get it to do much at all.
A reflection on how abstractions in computing can obscure understanding and affect quality of work and people.
