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Intents: the end-game for computing interfaces?

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Computing interfaces are undergoing big changes. Let’s explore how we got here, what it means and why we may be approaching optimality. Early computing began with low-level, imperative interfaces. Engineers painstakingly entered commands in languages like Assembly, dictating inputs with the specificity of the underlying hardware. Setting register values, applying arithmetic operations, all with meticulous precision. As we exited the “early computing era”, we saw two big drivers for new interfaces: the need for greater efficiency and the need for machines to capture “business context” in a reusable and understandable manner. To boost productivity, developers turned to higher order languages with terse semantics, allowing them to focus on the problem domain rather than the low-level details. At the same time, computing trickled out of academia and into business. Digitization and automation became a must for every corporation. To adapt to this need for capturing business semantics, comput

Computing interfaces are going through a major reset. Let’s look at how we got here, what’s changing and why we may be getting closer to an optimal interface for working with the machine Early computing began with low-level, imperative interfaces. Engineers entered commands in languages like Assembly, dictating instructions with the specificity of the underlying hardware. Set a register value. Move data around. Apply an arithmetic operation. Everything had to be spelled out with meticulous precision. The computer was powerful but only if you could speak its language. As we exited the…

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