I like trees
I like trees. No, not like an outdoor tree (although I think they're pretty nifty too), but tree as a mathmatical and computer science concept. It was in my second computer science class ever, Introduction to Data Structures, we learned about binary search trees.
I remember being floored by it. It was just so compelling in its elegant, recursive glory. It really captivated me how something so simple could boast such powerful properties. In this I had seen beauty unlike anything I'd ever witnessed, a new way of thinking, a whole world I never knew existed. A world rich in untapped natural phenomona just waiting to be put to use.
It's been 13 years since that class and trees have proved far more pervasive and important in computing than I ever imagined. They lurk in so many places we forget about them. They are everywhere. But I see them. I do. Hello little trees, I see you!
All I'm saying is I like trees. Is that so wrong?
Posted April 26, 2006 1:00 PM
Comments
In college, we had a lesson on red/black trees. I used a red pen and a black pen to draw mine out, even on tests. :P
Debbie, April 26, 2006 4:16 PM
I'm an AVL tree man myself. Nothing against Red or Black, but couldn't it have been a Red and Green tree? It's more festive.
Damien, April 27, 2006 11:56 AM
It's been 13 years since I started the company. I LOVE TREES TOO!
Henry Bestritsky, April 27, 2006 3:50 PM
Trees are conceptually nice, but just don't model the real world very well as I observe it. They are especially poor at handling and adding more than a few mutually-exclusive attributes. It would be nice if the real world did grow and change in a tree-wise shape, but it does not for the most part. I have to agree with those who propose Set Theory as a superior alternative. It is tougher to get your head around, but is easier to evolve to real changes. The closest thing to set theory in current technologies is relational databases. And, this gets back to the relational-versus-OO fights that you don't seem to like. Thinking in sets hurts at first, but you will dig it once it clicks.
James Gore, May 8, 2006 3:34 PM
Correction: "Mutually-exclusive attributes" should read "orthogonal attributes". Apologies on my part. Examples for a People Object would be hair-color, shoe-size, body build, gender, etc.
James Gore, May 8, 2006 3:47 PM
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