Tech Talk: Software as a Reflection of Values With Bryan Cantrill

Tech Talk: Software as a Reflection of Values With Bryan Cantrill

Author: Adam Gordon Bell - Software Developer December 18, 2018 Duration: 1:19:04

Which operating system is the best? Which programming language is the best? What text editor?

Bryan Cantrill, CTO of Joyent says that is the wrong question. Languages, operating systems and communities have to make trade offs and they do that based on their values. So the right language is the one who's values align with you and your projects goals.

This simple idea carries a lot of weight and I think has the potential to lift up technical discussions to a higher level of discourse. You will find it to be a helpful frame next time you need to make a technical decision. Bryan is also pretty excited about how the values of the rust community align with his values for system software.

Also we cover Oberon, Clean and Simula 4, none of which I've never heard of and how IBM System/370 's Global Trace Facility doesn't hold a candle to Dtrace.

Webpage for this episode

Show Links:


In CoRecursive: Coding Stories, host Adam Gordon Bell sits down with software developers to explore the human narratives woven into the technology we build. This isn't a technical interview focused on syntax or best practices, but a deeper dive into the pivotal moments, creative struggles, and personal insights that shape how code comes to life. Each conversation reveals the context behind decisions, the stories of failure and breakthrough, and the often-overlooked human elements that define our craft. As a software developer himself, Adam guides these discussions with genuine curiosity, pulling out anecdotes and reflections you won't hear anywhere else. The podcast lives in the intersection of News, Education, and How-To, but through the lens of lived experience. You'll hear about the origins of influential projects, the rationale behind unconventional solutions, and the personal journeys that lead developers to their philosophies. Listening feels like pulling up a chair with thoughtful peers, offering a richer understanding of the profession that goes far beyond the screen. This is where the abstract becomes concrete, through the stories and people behind the code.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

CoRecursive: Coding Stories
Podcast Episodes
Story: Coding Through Chaos : Addiction, Recovery and Acceptance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:06
What if your search for connection took you somewhere you never meant to go—almost costing you everything? John Walker grew up building computers and exploring early internet forums, always looking for a place to fit in.…
Story: The Power of Context: Reimagining Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:06
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where learning felt like an uphill battle? Like no matter how hard you tried, the pieces just wouldn't fall into place? Steve Krouse's story shows the power of the right learni…
Story: briffa_sep98_e.pro - The File That Sparked a Storm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:47
Can a single line of code change the way we see science, policy, and trust? In this episode we explore the "Climategate" scandal that erupted from leaked emails and code snippets, fueling doubts about climate science. Wh…
Story: Hatetris - Obsession, Friendship, and World Records [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:27
What if a simple game became a gateway to computational breakthroughs? David Freiberg and Felipe set out on a journey to conquer Hatetris, a notoriously difficult JavaScript game. Their interest ignited when a new world…
Story: One Million Checkboxes - The Viral Game That Defied Convention [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:05
What if internet trolls could become your greatest collaborators? Nolen Royalty discovered this unexpected truth when his simple checkbox game went viral. It began with a school email prank that crashed servers but spark…
Story: Leaving Stripe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:45
What if leaving your dream job was the way to discover your true self? Jon de la Motte failed his first Stripe interview, but he didn't give up. It was his dream job, a company that connected with his father's work in fi…
Story: Inside Shopify's Layoffs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:04
What if you had to break life-changing news to your team—could you handle the weight of their futures? Allison's journey from software engineer to compassionate leader at Shopify is filled with challenges and growth. It…
Story: ReiserFS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:36
Have you ever known someone who's technical brilliance was overshadowed by personal failings? This is the story of Hans Reiser, a software developer driven to create a superior Linux filesystem, but whose difficult perso…
Story: From Code to Capital - Tim Chen's Journey from Engineer to VC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
What if your corporate job left you feeling empty, and you decided to leap into venture capital? Tim Chen, a software engineer, was disillusioned with corporate life at Microsoft. The 2008 market crash and layoffs deepen…