My 1992 view of the problems of computer programming in 1992
Summary
A reflective essay by Mark Dominus on the state of computer programming in 1992, arguing that the central challenges are methodological and linguistic rather than compiler technology. The piece argues that compilers have improved, but we still lack good languages and programming practices; it frames programming as a 'black art' and questions why a 'super FORTRAN I' compiler would matter.