Decision points and utility

I've been thinking a lot about this in preparation for the next I've been thinking a lot about this in preparation for the next HYTRADBOIHYTRADBOI.. My experience of online conferences has mostly been underwhelming. They typically borrow the form and structure of an in-person conference without considering whether those still make sense online, and whether the goals of an online conference should even be the same as an in-person conference.My experience of online conferences has mostly been underwhelming. They typically borrow the form and structure of an in-person conference without considering whether those still make sense online, and whether the goals of an online conference should even be the same as an in-person conference. The most important function of...The most important function of...

It's easy to think of being serious and having fun as opposite sides of a spectrum. The problem is that 'being serious' has many unrelated meanings, for example:It's easy to think of being serious and having fun as opposite sides of a spectrum. The problem is that 'being serious' has many unrelated meanings, for example: Serious as in somber or solemn. "This is a serious event, stop playing around."Serious as in somber or solemn. "This is a serious event, stop playing around." Serious as in actually trying to attain your goals, as opposed to just going through the motions. "This is a serious effort."Serious as in actually trying to attain your goals, as opposed to just going through the motions. "This is a serious effort." Only the first meaning is actually opposed to fun. Fun/playful vs...Only the first meaning is actually opposed to fun. Fun/playful vs...

hytradboi 2025 HYTRADBOI is coming back in 2025, this time with a programming languages track. I have 14 speakers confirmed so far, but there is still plenty of room. Let me know who you want to see!

(This is part of a series on the design of a language. See the list of posts here.) Many 'scripting' languages use a hashmap for their default associative data-structure (javascript objects, python dicts, etc). Hashtables have a lot of annoying properties: Vulnerable to hash flooding....

2025 Feb 28. Put it in your calendar. It's been three years since HYTRADBOI. Long enough that I've mostly forgotten how stressful it was to run a conference and it's starting to seem like a good idea again. talks The format will stay the same. 10 minute, pre-recorded, heavily-edited talks. Asynchronous chat. Join from a different time-zone, watch talks on your lunch break, answer questions...