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In her talk titled "Aesthetics and the Evolution of Code" at the Paris.rb Conf 2018, Coraline Ehmke explores the relationship between aesthetics and coding practices, emphasizing the importance of elegance in software development. She begins by outlined her credentials as an open-source advocate and discusses her experiences in Paris, setting the stage for her deeper philosophical exploration of aesthetic theory.

**Key Points Discussed:**  
- **Elegance in Code:** Ehmke examines the concept of elegance in programming, comparing it to the way beauty is interpreted in aesthetics. She discusses theories like pluralism, hybridism, and absolutism to illustrate how beauty can be perceived differently.
- **Applied Aesthetics:** She highlights how the principles of applied aesthetics can enhance the user experience in programming, urging developers to create interactive and pleasing code rather than producing 'brutalist' applications that merely serve functional purposes.
- **Natural Selection in Code:** Drawing parallels between biological evolution and programming, she analogizes that just as organisms evolve through natural and artificial selection, so too does code evolve. Projects that are elegant and well-structured are more likely to attract contributors, resembling an ecosystem's natural selection process.
- **Aesthetic Qualities in Programming Languages:** Ehmke presents her findings from a survey ranking programming languages based on aesthetic criteria, stating that Python performed best, followed by Ruby and JavaScript, suggesting a correlation between aesthetic appeal and popularity.
- **Measures of Elegance:** She identifies four main aesthetic principles that should govern code: correctness, performance, brevity, and readability. Each intersects to create an elegant code experience, stressing the need for balance among these elements.

**Significant Examples:**  
- Ehmke contrasts aesthetically pleasing architecture such as Bacon's Castle with utilitarian brutalist structures like the flak tower in Hamburg, demonstrating how aesthetic principles can elevate functionality.
- She illustrates the evolution of apples through the story of Johnny Appleseed, emphasizing how natural aesthetics have influenced agricultural practices.

**Conclusions/Takes Away:**  
- Developers should approach coding as a form of artistry, creating elegant, timeless solutions rather than merely producing expedient and ugly code driven by external pressures.
- The aesthetics of code are not just personal satisfaction but have practical implications for maintainability, extendability, and community engagement.
- Ehmke encourages developers to consider who their code is for, ultimately advocating for a return to craftsmanship in programming that thrives on beauty and utility.

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