There are hilarious stories I've heard and read about the way that things used to be "built to last" something a while back about an small Irish village mailman who rode the same bike for decades without ever getting a flat. It was a book I think, can't remember the name though but that image stuck with me. I'm sure that nostalgia and the way stories work have a large part to play in that kind of reminiscents, but there's certainly something to it, and we don't have much of that something these days. I also don't buy much, and I've been rocking my few pair of jeans for years and will for years to come. But my old laptop frame is cracked in many places, my phone screen is cracked for the first time and has been a while now, just waiting for a wayward meeting with water now.

To make it relevant to software, though I admit I haven't read the article, it just seems on topic for the forum and I like the conversations around here. Why are versions, or going out of date, or legacy systems such "a thing"? How did we not realize that the databases airlines used 40 years ago were just going to sit in place until something bad happens, and why is keeping them current or really just lubricated so hard? I have a bike I've been needing to do a little work on lately, just a few things all hitting end of life at around the same time, but it's been treating me well for years, and the fixing up process is simple and obvious. New chain and cassette, replace the cables, replace the break pads and tires. It's clear and obvious how I can take care of my thing, the people at my local bike shop are clear and honest with me and I don't have to take their word for it the first time, I know enough to check and confirm. Those guys are good guys, my bike is a good bike. I'm a good owner (mostly). It's a good happy system.

I don't know my electronic stuff, I don't know my hardware and I don't know my OS and I don't know my software. I can't tell whether the guy at Fry's or Newegg is cheating me or not. I don't really get how displays have so many damn names and resolutions and surfaces. I mean I get it, but what is a "Retina Display" or a "butterfly keyboard". As if I was selling you a "Surefire chain". What the heck is a "surefire"? I want a bike chain. I know my computer very well, I fight it sometimes, and over the years I got to know it better. I really enjoy playing with tiling wms and xmodmap and I think there is a world of opportunity there (mostly because our modern pop culture doesn't care so much about input devices as PC innovators used to). But my phone? Man, I wish. It seems so clear to me that I can do so many magical handy things with my phone. I know the area, I've lived here for years, but it's a bigger city. Can you just get me to the freeway then turn off the nav? Not a chance. Ah I just accidentally swiped that notification or, what's this, my alarm did go off when I wanted but then it decided to stop and just let me know I overslept. Where are these software logic decisions being made? Can I prevent some action? How do I know what non-visual state changed and most importantly why!? Please give me a simple state dashboard, this is how the real world works. I can see why my sink is leaking or my shelf fell over. I can find why my feet are getting wet and the trash smells. Give me digital physics please so that I can see what is happening to me. Where are things logged? I have a GPS, can I use it? Can I have the best contouring route down this mountain? No it's not likely anyone has been here before or done this with a phone in hand, no I don't care the time prediction or reviews, I just want some lines on a map. I just have a quick question about literal figures my software systems have access to and I can see it, but no way for me to use this ui to get it without coding my own thing up.

This is why I enjoy coding, because I can make it do what I want. But also screw that; hours of work for a simple connection between two things that I decided should be connected in an instance of use. I can't do this for everything, I know most things are extensible, but I don't have the energy or interest to figure them all out. I want my whole digital experience to be mine, I'll buy other people's pieces to put in, like I buy furniture for my house. But it's my house, not Google's or my local municipality's. I really enjoy woodwork, I'm not so skilled myself, but my friends are. So I want their stuff, or my simple stuff, or the local farmer's market stuff. I want a simple digital life. I want simple software. If I don't get to see all the latest events or robberies I'm ok with that. I'll find ways to incorporate my neighborhood at my own pace, and with those people directly in mind. I want it designed for me as an individual, not the way something like NextDoor (what's that apps name?) Is designed for what seems to be "The American Neighborhood", that's way too damn broad.

I want my tools to work the way I want them to work.

Well, long uncertain ramble. Thanks for reading, and I'm glad your kid is using your pants, I think that's hilarious and great. I love all my Dad's stuff, or even just stuff I get to use with him. My Grandad also can tell stories for endless hours, and it's become one of my favorite qualities in the friends I have, and one I love to share with the people around me. Cheers.

(I wrote this on mobile, though I'm sure I'll get to cleaning this up in the next couple days, I apologise in advance for autocorrect and punctuation)