Jon Blow reflects on the concept of a "daylight computer," a system designed for focused work during daylight hours. He argues against the always-on, notification-driven nature of modern computing, proposing a machine that prioritizes deep work and mindful engagement. This involves limiting distractions, emphasizing local data storage, and potentially even restricting network access. The goal is to reclaim a sense of control and presence, fostering a healthier relationship with technology by aligning its use with natural rhythms and promoting focused thought over constant connectivity.
JavaScript's new Temporal API provides a modern, comprehensive, and consistent way to work with dates and times. It addresses the shortcomings of the built-in Date object with clear and well-defined types for instants, durations, time zones, and calendar systems. Temporal offers powerful features like easy date/time arithmetic, formatting, parsing, and manipulation, making complex time-related tasks significantly simpler and more reliable. The API is now stage 3, meaning its core functionalities are stable and are implemented in current browsers, paving the way for wider adoption and improved date/time handling in JavaScript applications.
Hacker News users generally expressed enthusiasm for the Temporal API, viewing it as a significant improvement over the problematic native Date object. Several commenters highlighted Temporal's immutability and clarity around time zones as major advantages. Some discussed the long and arduous process of getting Temporal standardized, acknowledging the efforts of the involved developers. A few users raised concerns, questioning the API's verbosity and the potential difficulties in migrating existing codebases. Others pointed out the need for better documentation and broader community adoption. Some comments touched upon specific features, such as the plain-date and plain-time objects, and compared Temporal to similar date/time libraries in other languages like Java and Python.
Summary of Comments ( 94 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43098318
Hacker News users largely praised the Daylight Computer project for its ambition and innovative approach to personal computing. Several commenters appreciated the focus on local-first software and the potential for increased privacy and control over data. Some expressed skepticism about the project's feasibility and the challenges of building a sustainable ecosystem around a niche operating system. Others debated the merits of the chosen hardware and software stack, suggesting alternatives like RISC-V and questioning the reliance on Electron. A few users shared their personal experiences with similar projects and offered practical advice on development and community building. Overall, the discussion reflected a cautious optimism about the project's potential, tempered by a realistic understanding of the difficulties involved in disrupting the established computing landscape.
The Hacker News post titled "Thoughts on Daylight Computer" generated a fair amount of discussion, with several commenters engaging with the concept of a "daylight computer," as proposed in the linked blog post.
One of the most compelling threads revolved around the practicality and efficiency of relying on daylight for computation. Some commenters questioned the reliability of such a system, pointing out the variability of daylight hours and weather conditions. They argued that a consistently available power source, such as grid electricity or even solar panels with battery storage, would be much more practical for most computational tasks. Others countered this by suggesting that the daylight computer concept could be useful in specific niche applications, such as off-grid scientific data collection in remote, sunny locations, or even as an educational tool to demonstrate basic computing principles. The discussion delved into the potential trade-offs between the environmental benefits of using daylight and the limitations imposed by its intermittency.
Another interesting point raised was the potential impact on the design of algorithms and software. Commenters discussed the need to develop software that can gracefully handle interruptions in power supply, and algorithms that can adapt to varying levels of available computational resources. This led to a discussion about the possibility of using daylight computers for tasks that are not time-sensitive, allowing computations to be paused and resumed as daylight permits.
Several commenters also focused on the technical details of the proposed implementation. There were questions about the efficiency of concentrating daylight, the types of sensors that could be used to detect light levels, and the overall energy consumption of the system. Some commenters also suggested alternative approaches to harnessing daylight for computation, such as using photovoltaic cells to generate electricity instead of directly using concentrated light.
Finally, some commenters expressed appreciation for the author's creativity and the thought-provoking nature of the daylight computer concept. They saw it less as a practical solution for everyday computing and more as an interesting exploration of alternative approaches to computation and a reminder of the limitations of relying solely on conventional energy sources. The discussion also touched upon the philosophical implications of aligning computational processes with natural cycles.