# Dijkstra's Tweetstorm

- Show: [Oxide and Friends](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends)
- Published: 2021-10-19
- Length: 1h 26m
- Episode: 18
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-10-19-dijkstras-tweetstorm
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2e8351f8

## Summary

Bryan Cantrill and Adam Leventhal of Oxide Computer Company discuss Edsger Dijkstra’s 1975 tweetstorm, using it to explore how programming languages shape cognitive models and engineering decisions. The conversation covers the pedagogical value of early languages like BASIC and Perl, the specific challenges of learning Rust, and the hardware bring-up struggles at Oxide involving iCE40 FPGAs and I2C level translators. They emphasize that while early languages like BASIC foster enthusiasm, deeper understanding requires exposure to lower-level concepts like C and memory management, a lesson reinforced by Oxide's own hardware debugging experiences.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-10-19-dijkstras-tweetstorm#t=0) Introduction: Dijkstra's 1975 Tweetstorm and Language Philosophy
- [4:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-10-19-dijkstras-tweetstorm#t=292) Adam Leventhal's Early Career: Perl, CGI, and Meeting Larry Wall
- [12:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-10-19-dijkstras-tweetstorm#t=729) Meeting Dennis Ritchie and the Social Dynamics of Tech Icons
- [16:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-10-19-dijkstras-tweetstorm#t=973) The Cognitive Impact of Programming Languages: BASIC, Pascal, and MATLAB
- [37:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-10-19-dijkstras-tweetstorm#t=2225) Learning Methods: Zed Shaw, Typing Code, and Rust's Learning Curve
- [50:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-10-19-dijkstras-tweetstorm#t=3031) Where Rust Fits: C++, Ownership, and Curriculum Design
- [1:12:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-10-19-dijkstras-tweetstorm#t=4329) Oxide Hardware Bring-Up: iCE40 FPGAs, I2C, and Debugging Failures

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Oxide Computer Company (company)
- iCE40 (chip)
- Dijkstra (other)
- Perl (other)
- Rust (other)
- I2C (other)
- Hubris (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Exploring Rust for Embedded Systems with Philip Markgraf](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2024-10-30-exploring-rust-for-embedded-systems-with-philip-markgraf) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [267: Cute and Squishy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-11-09-267-cute-and-squishy) (Embedded.fm)
- [An Interview with Dave Vandenbout - Xceptional XESS Xenagogue](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-01-22-an-interview-with-dave-vandenbout-xceptional-xess-xenagogue) (The Amp Hour)
- [158: Programming Is Too Difficult for Humans](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-28-158-programming-is-too-difficult-for-humans) (Embedded.fm)
- [127: Chicken Equals Duck Plus One](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-11-26-127-chicken-equals-duck-plus-one) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-10-19-dijkstras-tweetstorm. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Oxide and Friends.