Reviews In Depth

There is a narrative hidden underneath the emergent social networking phenomenon.  It’s a story about our fundamental psychological reality and our absolute potential as a species.  Thousands of pundits are trying to tell it – but none of us really knows how to craft a narrative so epic in scope.  With the release of Google [...]

A reader on my post about why everyone should program asked me for some advice on the step I took to learn the Python programming language.  So I thought I might write a little guide for those who think they might be interested in learning Python. This guide will be a little unusual by most [...]

Not too long ago, the Internet went nuts over Roger Ebert’s contention that not only were computer games not art, but that they never could be.  The subject is well worn, and most of you are probably tired of it – having heard all the arguments from every side that you think you’re ever likely to hear. [...]

Today we will be reviewing a programming language. Yes! A programming language - Python to be precise. But as per usual here on RID - we won't be looking at things from the normal perspective. If you head on over to the various places where hackers hang out on the internet, the sort of discussions you'll find run something like the following: What is the programming language at issue? Weigh its pros and cons versus other languages. How is it typed? Is it object orientated? Is it functional? What in fact are the advantages of these features... etc... What is much more uncommon is a discussion of the question - why should anyone learn to program? And that's the question I'm going to answer today.

Think about the person closest to you and the connection that you have.  Feel the sense of familiarity and trust.  Think of the wonderful experiences your intimacy has enabled.   But now imagine this intimacy is torn away.  Their eyes intimate indifference.  You’re just one of the billions of people to whom they could possibly [...]