On: A Generation Lost in the Bazaar (2012)

[Noseshine]

We can - but if we keep the analogy of grown things we can only grow stuff that has already been grown before and make only tiny changes. It's worth remembering that evolution has neither purpose nor direction. Even "adapting" is an aimless process, the changes are predictable only for very small adaptations. Major changes may lead to anything, including a "restart" (extinction event followed by something different).

So the model has its limitations for human projects where we don't want to have quite that propensity for surprising outcomes.

[OtterCoder → Noseshine]

See, I've always seen the statement that evolution is intentionless to be a bit arrogant. Consciousness, as we are just starting to learn, is a property of emergent networks. Further, we are just starting to discover that phenotypical expression is so much more complex than 1/2mom + 1/2dad = baby. Evolution is calculating something, even if it's inscrutable to us.

[Noseshine → OtterCoder]

    > I've always seen the statement that evolution is intentionless to be a bit arrogant

Assuming intent without any proof is the by far more outrageous statement. I have no intention of entering any discussion based on "believe" though.

[ontouchstart → Noseshine]

In rapid changing environment, growth also implies learning. So perhaps we can also use learning as a new analogy of software development?

An ongoing example of learning and growing a design is "Swift Evolution Process"

https://github.com/apple/swift-evolution/blob/master/process...