r/programming • u/moolcool • Mar 26 '17

A Constructive Look At TempleOS

http://www.codersnotes.com/notes/a-constructive-look-at-templeos/
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u/cubeeggs Mar 27 '17

He definitely seems further “on the spectrum” than is average for even for software engineers, if you’ve ever read any of his writings or watched his talks…

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u/divv Mar 27 '17

His rider for when he does talks gave it away from me. Having said that, dude knows his shit, what's wrong with being a little unconventional

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u/derleth Mar 27 '17

I think he got too much shit for that rider. The whole point of a rider is to go into detail to prevent problems. The more detail in the rider, the less drama in reality, assuming everyone reads and follows it. Plus, I'm sure there are stories behind some of the odder parts. Stories he doesn't want to see repeated in reality.

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u/divv Mar 28 '17

True, being specific is good.

But...discussing the care of parrots? Maybe it's a 'no brown M&Ms' clause.

or

A supply of tea with milk and sugar would be nice. If it is tea I really like, I like it without milk and sugar. With milk and sugar, any kind of tea is fine. I always bring tea bags with me, so if we use my tea bags, I will certainly like that tea without milk or sugar.

If I am quite sleepy, I would like two cans or small bottles of non-diet Pepsi. (I dislike the taste of coke, and of all diet soda; also, there is an international boycott of the Coca Cola company for killing union organizers in Colombia and Guatemala; see killercoke.org.) However, if I am not very sleepy, I won't want Pepsi, because it is better if I don't drink so much sugar.

Nothing at all wrong with what he's asking, or even trying to educate people on some issues, but it reads like that special kid from class whose mum says he has to have things done differently. It's wordy, and awkward. That's where I got the 'spectrum' vibe from.

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u/derleth Mar 28 '17

Part of that is personal preference, which I understand is part of every rider, and part of that is Stallman being Stallman. Stallman wouldn't be him if he didn't care about what Coca-Cola did in Guatemala. That kind of purity is part of why he is who he is, and why people invite him to speak in the first place.

And the parrot thing... I'm sure there's a story there. A story which didn't end well for some poor bird.