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String Theory and Time Travel: the humble text editor by Colin Fulton Did you know that the time machine in your text editor is probably broken? Better yet, have you considered that your text editor has a time machine? The majority of our day is spent in a text editor, but most never think about how they really work. There is a lot more to an editor than saving a few keystrokes or the rivalry between Vim and Emacs; they can teach us about data structures, IO, design, and the dangers of time travel. Let's take a closer look at some of the most enduring applications, and see what we can learn by trying to build a better editor using Ruby. Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/H5Qq/
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In the video titled "String Theory and Time Travel: The Humble Text Editor," Colin Fulton discusses the significance of text editors in programming and how they relate to more complex software development tools. Fulton, a front-end architect and accessibility specialist, emphasizes that while many spend considerable time using text editors, few understand their inner workings or the historical context surrounding their development. Key Points Covered in the Talk: - **Introduction to Text Editors**: Fulton begins by engaging the audience with questions about their preferences for text editors, illustrating the deep affection developers have for these tools. - **Personal Experience**: He shares his journey into text editor development, sparked by his desire to create a personal CMS for his artwork, leading him to explore the intricacies involved in building a text editor. - **Historical Perspective**: The talk outlines the evolution of text editors from early computing's keypunch machines and teletype interfaces to modern text editors. Examples include MIT's Tico and Unix's `ed`, showcasing the challenges and advancements in command editing. - **User Interface Philosophy**: Fulton contrasts modal and modeless user interfaces, explaining their impacts on user experience and how they inform current text editor designs. - **Development Tools Evolution**: He discusses the shift from hand tools to wizards in modern editor creation, highlighting how usability principles can guide the development of more efficient tools. - **Technical Features of Editors**: The features of text editors, specifically the 'time machine' functionality, are examined to discuss how they could be improved using data structures such as doubly linked lists to enhance editing history tracking. - **Inspiration from History**: Fulton points to significant figures such as Jef Raskin and innovations like the Canon Cat and Rob Pike's Sam to underline how historical insights can inform contemporary tool design. - **Conclusion and Forward-Looking Statements**: He concludes by encouraging exploration of computing history, urging attendees to apply historical lessons to develop better editing tools. Fulton hints at ongoing work on his text editor and a future sharing of his findings. Fulton's talk encapsulates not only the practical aspects of using text editors but also encourages a philosophical reflection on the tools we use and the potential for innovation rooted in historical practices. The overarching message is a call to appreciate and improve text editors, crucial tools in the developer's workflow.
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