This paper is a confirmation of the tendency to eliminate the universal machine which is the computer revolution breakthrough. We went from programming language back to special machines.
Remember the accounting machines of the first half of last century? Not universal, only accounting machines. Or the unit record equipment. Special machines, fixed cycles, we could only "program" a board. We could change the position of a result in a printed form. Or add two numbers during the fixed cycle. No real programming.
Frameworks are special machines. Powerful, but specific, not universal. As the paper shows, programmers using frameworks do a little coding. Almost no algorithm. They call a lot of APIs.
Note: APIS. Not functions, not procedures, not routines, not objects. So, no modular programming. Just small changes to a fixed program machine.
This is what I call the "un-universalization" of software. Or more precisely, the end of software.
To be able to produce good software, innovative, creative, software which makes a difference, software which produce competitive advantage, we must maintain the universal machine.
Which means maintain programmability.
Alas! As a Programmer (and not ashamed because of that!) I do depend on Software continuity! And I think two general comments are due:
ResponderExcluir#1=Legacy! Too childish to think they will vanish in say, one year, substituted on the act by some 'novelty option' and 'more fashined' way of doing things! Forget them! Legacy Applications are here to stay, as they say, 4ever!
#2=RPG! Remember them? To substitute those Conventional CPC=Card Programmed Calculator. Frameworks reminded me of them, connected to the Accounting Machines, doing marvels . . in the fifties, up to mid sixties!
Good article, and I must be back to that Assembler Routine, because the CIJ instruction refuses to treat digit '0' as a positive number . . . Orsoni.
Great comment, my friend. Thanks to remember RPG. Yes, it was a unit record equipment simulator on a computer. Now we have unit record equipment simulators in the software market.
ExcluirHowever, I do think programmability will come back. So, as you said, let's program!