“The building is a computer!”
◼︎ There are, or used to be, buildings like that (depending on when you're reading this—is GPT-6 already out?).
Here is one that I absolutely adore.
If I wasn't working on Nette (which is of course the best), I would be building that building (in software that is).
There are also rooms that are a computer (a system, a process).
This particular one is generally well known and maybe especially so to the 'tools for thought' crowd (Seeing Spaces)
Of course, as far as we can tell, buildings (or rooms) don't really do anything on their own (cue a sequence of caveats).
There is a need for an intelligent agent, who's thinking and actuating, and that of course is our job.
Here is another example—The London Library—which is very dear to my heart (it is actually where I am 'now', typing out these words).
OK, ok—what do I mean by all this "is a computer", "is a system", "is a process", "is a this and that"?
Well let's take this library then.
It has books, in the so called stacks, which you can browse freely.
It's an awesome library, so when you browse you usually find the thing you're looking for.
More importantly though you find things that you didn't know you want—you make an unexpected discovery!
And then you read, follow trails, get ideas, write things down... forget, loose track of time, come back... make notes, mumble to oneself (to the irritation of others in the beautiful Reading Room).
After this whole dance you try to summarise, write, re-write and finally maybe produce something new.
▲ This all happens in a purpose built environment conducive to the flow of ideas, with spaces, tools and a general ambiance to help you work.
We are part of that environment and we are the carriers, moving the information through it.
What do software environments look like and when are they conducive to the flow of ideas? What are the digital spaces, what are the tools and what's their ambiance (or vibe :))?
I'm looking at the Evening Star building and I wonder what can we learn from it, what can we borrow to make software more like those purpose built environments for thinking.
To be clear, I'm not looking for something that 'just' gives some answers, I wish for something that makes us better and part of something bigger!
Hope Nette will become that and you'll be part of Nette!