There’s No Such Thing As Plain Text • Dylan Beattie • YOW! 2023
This presentation was recorded at YOW! Australia 2023. #GOTOcon #YOW
Dylan Beattie - Consultant, Software Developer & Creator of the Rockstar Programming Language @@DylanBeattie
RESOURCES
ABSTRACT
Software is complicated. Machine learning, microservice architectures, message queues… every few months there’s another revolutionary idea to consider, another framework to learn. And underneath so many of these amazing ideas and abstractions is text. When you work in software, you spend your life working with text. Some of those text files are source code, some are configuration files, some of them are documentation. Editors, revision control systems, programming languages - everything from C# and HTML to Git and VS Code is based on the idea that we’re working with “plain text” files. But… what if I told you there’s no such thing?
When we say something is a plain text file, we’re relying on a huge number of assumptions - about operating systems, editors, file formats, language, culture, history… and, most of the time, that’s OK. But when it goes wrong, good old plain text can lead to some of the weirdest bugs you’ve ever seen. Why is there Chinese in the SQL event logs? Why has the city of Aarhus disappeared? And why does Magnus Mårtensson always have trouble getting into the USA?
Join Dylan Beattie for a fascinating look into the hidden world of text files - from the history of mechanical teletypes, to how emoji skin tones actually work. We’ll look at some memorable bugs, some golden rules for working with plain text, and we’ll find out what the phrase “PIKE MATCHBOX” has to do with driving in the Soviet Union. [...]
Read the full abstract here:
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Henney, Buschmann & Schmidt • Pattern-Oriented Software Architecture Volume 5 •
Gamma, Helm, Johnson & Booch • Design Patterns (Gang of Four) •
David Farley • Modern Software Engineering •
Kevlin Henney • 97 Things Every Programmer Should Know •
#PlainText #Programming #SoftwareEngineering #ComputerScience #PIKEMATCHBOX #DylanBeattie #ASCII #ASCIIart #IEEE #YOWcon
Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket at
Sign up for updates and specials at
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL - new videos posted almost daily.
1 view
0
0
2 weeks ago 00:31:53 4
Tokyo Xtreme Racer - Customizing and Fully Upgrading 350Z
3 weeks ago 00:03:38 1
Tired of Dry Air and Sleepless Nights? Here’s the Smart Humidifier That Has Your Back! - YouTube
3 weeks ago 00:03:56 1
WE PRAY - Coldplay, Elyanna, Little Simz, Burna Boy, TINI (Elyanna Version) (Official)
3 weeks ago 00:04:22 3
Stressed, Tired, and No Time for the Spa? Your Ultimate Home Sauna Solution Awaits! - YouTube
3 weeks ago 03:55:59 2
“I Am Your Shield“ God Says - God’s Blessings Will Fill Your Life Eliminate All Evil Around
3 weeks ago 00:11:34 1
💰$167,800 First-Week Payment Proof | Done For You 10X ROI Campaigns | Pay Per Call & CPA Marketing
3 weeks ago 00:06:11 5
Imminence - The Black
3 weeks ago 00:00:00 1
HOUSE SO HAUNTED NO ONE WILL ENTER ALONE | CORPSE FOUND | REAL PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION
3 weeks ago 00:03:30 1
Kings Of Convenience - Rocky Trail (Official Video)
3 weeks ago 00:10:43 1
California Games (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete
4 weeks ago 00:04:06 1
Squid - Building 650 (Official Video)
4 weeks ago 00:04:23 1
SLIPKNOT - Psychosocial (Official Music Video)
4 weeks ago 00:03:58 1
Evanescence - Bring Me To Life (No Rap) HQ
4 weeks ago 00:04:19 1
Al Bano & Romina Power - Liberta
4 weeks ago 00:50:41 3
Kryon - 24/7 & The Coming Tools
4 weeks ago 00:03:18 1
Barrel Through Donkey Kong Adventures — Nintendo Switch
4 weeks ago 00:14:26 1
Daily Contour/Sculpting Gua Sha - Follow Along Tutorial
4 weeks ago 00:05:03 1
Slipknot - Psychosocial [OFFICIAL VIDEO] [HD]
4 weeks ago 00:03:53 1
Frustrated with Dry Skin After Every Shower? Here’s Your Solution with Tree Hut Cherry Rave Gel Wash - YouTube
4 weeks ago 00:02:45 1
I Dubbed Epic the Musical and Made it a Comedy (Circe Saga)
4 weeks ago 00:03:13 2
🌙 The Beautiful Pole Vaulter Embla Matilde Njerve 🌟
1 month ago 00:19:31 1
Winter Survival Shelter - Sleeping Outside in -25° Weather
1 month ago 00:10:44 1
Two theories for an unsolved Soviet mystery
1 month ago 00:15:09 1
SUPER-HERO-BOWL! First Time Watching TOON SANDWICH!