IanTwenty

I see some commenters on other posts saying they will buy linux phones due to this, could be good for the ecosystem.

Castopod looks interesting

doesn't he weasel out of the responsibility to give clear, logical, verifyable reasons for his position?

Absolutely, if I remember right he leans back on having experienced bad comments more often than helpful ones. John questions this. I think it is close to dogma with Bob on this.

Can you explain that more?

And doesn't the example with the prime number generation algorithm show clearly that omitting context just does not work for code?

Quote from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-context_and_low-context_cultures

High-context cultures often exhibit less-direct verbal and nonverbal communication, utilizing small communication gestures and reading more meaning into these less-direct messages. Low-context cultures do the opposite; direct verbal communication is needed to properly understand a message being communicated...

Now I'm not making a strong claim that Bob and John are from different ends of the context spectrum. However it seems to me that Bob believes there is enough 'context' available in code and in coders themselves to communicate all meaning without comments.

Even Bob's diagram, to help explain the primes algorithm, assumes high context in the reader. It's lacking any labels or key - we are just supposed to see what he means if we stare hard enough at it. If we are already immersed in the problem space then this might work but its so inefficient for anyone else.

And once we step away from our code for even a short time we are that someone else. We are going to waste a lot of time rediscovering how the algorithm works. A case John makes convincingly I think.

Code cannot replace comments. The primes algorithm avoids division I believe but this is not clear from the code alone. A reader might work this out eventually but a comment saves so much time. Could the code be refactored to clearly express the avoidance of division? Yes there's probably a way, but imagine how bad that code would read and what a waste of time just to avoid a comment.

On an unrelated note, Google’s blog post also is soliciting feedback from the public on these changes.

"Please let us know if you have any feedback or questions about the verification requirements."

https://goo.gle/Android-verification-feedback

Another thank you for posting this, made my day.

I have read and followed a fair amount of Uncle Bob's work but was not aware of Ousterhout till now. Bob says during the time the Clean Code book was written there was an anti-comment sentiment about and this matches my own experience. I agree with Ousterhout that it's taken too far in his book though.

I wonder if there is another factor at play - some people/cultures prefer high context communication and some less. Bob seems clearly to prefer low context i.e. the burden is on the (code) reader to educate themselves. Whereas John makes it a matter of professional behaviour that we make the next reader's work as simple as possible by commenting code as appropriate.

Surely it's better to assume high context is needed and provide it (within reason) versus only catering for low context. As Bob discovered he became a low context person when he returned to his own code after some time had passed.

Messages are only sent when both online though, thet's the bigger difference (unless using Briar Mailbox). Also it can send over wifi and bluetooth without internet connection i.e. no other devices involved.

What's going on?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/18/jeremy-corbyn-clashes-zarah-sultana-your-party-split

An extraordinary split has opened between Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana in the formation of their new leftwing party, with the former Labour leader suggesting he will take legal action over an unauthorised membership portal promoted by his co-leader.

I know. The author suggests:

Experiment with new-to-you version control systems like Fossil, Mercurial, and Pijul.

The author is:

learning about different version control systems. For example, the differences between Fossil and git revealed a lot of my biases towards git simply because it’s familiar (and Fossil seems really cool). Reading about the theory behind Pijul absolutely bends my brain into knots. I keep trying anyway because conflicts in git are frustrating and I’d like a better solution.

The author says:

It would be nice to move beyond git one day and have a better experience for managing complex codebases, and not on GitHub’s timeline.

Jujutsu is another git alternative I keep seeing around and came to mind reading this:

https://steveklabnik.github.io/jujutsu-tutorial/introduction/what-is-jj-and-why-should-i-care.html

If you're temporarily away from home do you need to workout? Which is to say you could let yourself off doing this, perhaps. Maybe being away from home is enough change to deal with. You can pick your battles, energy is not infinite. You could spend the time reading about training instead in your room, or some other interest.

I guess exercise enthusiasts would recommend keeping to your routine where possible, so maybe this is weighing on your mind and creating an internal conflict? I should go. You don't have to live by that if you don't want to though. It's harder for you, make your own rules.

That being said I agree with the comment elsewhere that you could also try small bites of it. You could just visit the gym and stay for a minute or two, then leave. Next day try again. If it doesn't get easier then maybe it's not the gym for you, too bright. too loud, or something else maybe. That's ok. If it doesn't feel right trust that feeling.

Is there anyone who would go with you? A trusted friend who knows how difffcult this could be would be a great choice. Someone who understands if you need to leave suddenly, no questions.

Some gyms might have a changing area you could retreat to. Having a refuge can be useful. Maybe headphones/earbuds and a familiar song/voice would help too.

The Butterfield Diet Plan in all its glory for the curious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NjTWvl8x-U&t=6

From the zdnet article linked in another comment:

tech is one thing; business is another. That's where the RSL Collective comes in. Modeled on music's ASCAP and BMI, the nonprofit is essentially a rights-management clearinghouse for publishers and creators. Join for free, pool your rights, and let the Collective negotiate with AI companies to ensure you're compensated.

I guess this is the body that will be leading the enforcement/bringing the consequences