Current software systems are often too complex and difficult to modify, which makes them less user-friendly. We need simpler ways to build software that anyone can change easily.
Many businesses often overcomplicate software development, focusing too much on rigid structures instead of creating flexible systems. Instead, we should aim for systems that work like Excel and FileMaker, where changes can be made swiftly.
A new approach to software composition is needed, one that allows everyone to understand and manipulate tools. By focusing on natural relations and simple queries, we can create software that is accessible to all, not just a select few.
Coding can be seen as managing bits of information, or 'state', rather than just writing long programs. This means we need to handle and connect these pieces carefully to avoid complicated issues.
Using coding languages that are too complex can introduce many problems like bugs and slow performance. It's better to use simpler methods when possible to make our code cleaner and easier to maintain.
Relying more on databases and simpler query languages can help us streamline our coding. This way, we can focus on essential computations and reduce the amount of complex code we need to write.
The CIA played a role in shifting the focus of programming towards SQL, hindering the adoption of a more general declarative approach like the relational model.
Datalog, an elegant and flexible alternative to SQL, was overshadowed by SQL due to support from the CIA and dominant players like Oracle.
Adopting a universal declarative approach like the relational model could simplify, secure, and improve the reliability of software engineering, but SQL dominance hindered this progress.