The Eric Normand Podcast How does making something first class give you power?
Jul 15, 2019
Explore how making programming elements first class revolutionizes coding practices. Discover insights from a 3D graphics pioneer that showcase the adaptability of viewing code as data. Learn the distinction between data structures and code, emphasizing the importance of treating data as a first-class citizen. This approach enhances safety, usability, and abstraction, ultimately leading to more efficient programming systems.
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Catmull's 3D Modeling
- Ed Catmull, at Pixar, initially hard-coded 3D models, like a hand, during his PhD.
- He later transitioned to data structures, enabling easier manipulation and reuse.
Data's Power
- Representing models as data allows multiple uses, like editing and rendering.
- This is more manipulable than code and serializable for storage or transfer.
Data's Safety
- Data is less powerful than code, being limited in functionality.
- These limitations, however, increase safety by preventing issues like infinite loops.