In my daily work, I work on very large, complex, distributed systems built out of many Python modules and packages. The focus is very similar to what you find, for example, in Java and, in general, in systems programming languages.
The main motivations were to try to leverage Google's expertise with large computer systems and to try to give something back to science
This is actually a very important principle that science is learning about large systems like evolution and that futurists are learning about anticipating human society: just because a future scenario is plausible doesn't mean we can get there from here.
The American economy is like a huge aircraft carrier. It doen't turn fast. That's why you can't judge a new president by what happens in his early months.
Egalitarianism is possible only in small social systems. Once a medium gets past a certain size fame is a forced move.
In journalism, especially, we tend to deal with large, complex systems by finding especially interesting people and story lines to focus on.
My background is putting in large systems that change lives... The right kind of systems can bring honesty and efficiency.
When you have large systems, it becomes almost impossible to make even very simple changes.
There is no one "root of all evil" in software development. Design is hard in many ways. People tend to underestimate the intellectual and practical difficulties involved in building a significant system involving software. It is not and will not be reduced to a simple mechanical "assembly line" process. Creativity, engineering principles, and evolutionary change are needed to create a satisfactory large system.
