The Man Who Revolutionized Computer Science With Math

Summary

Leslie Lamport reflects on his evolution from a programmer to a computer scientist, emphasizing the importance of mathematics in computer science. He highlights the distinction between programming and coding, stressing that programming involves designing algorithms with mathematical rigor. Lamport discusses his pivotal contributions to distributed systems, drawing parallels with special relativity and causality. He also touches on his work in industry, likening it to an artist being inspired by real-world observations. His favorite algorithm, the Bakery Algorithm, exemplifies the beauty of mathematical discovery and the unexpected elegance of problem-solving.

Takeaways

• 😀 Lesie Lamport discusses how the role of 'computer scientist' didn’t exist when he started his career, and it took him a while to identify himself as one.
• 😀 Lamport’s background is in mathematics, and he believes thinking about computers as a mathematician is crucial for understanding algorithms.
• 😀 He stresses the importance of proving algorithms are correct, comparing unproven algorithms to conjectures rather than theorems.
• 😀 Lamport believes programming is about designing algorithms, not just writing code, and distinguishes coding from typing when it comes to programming.
• 😀 To teach programming effectively, Lamport suggests focusing on what the program is supposed to do mathematically, rather than merely coding.
• 😀 He criticizes the lack of strong mathematical education, even for senior programmers, which hinders their ability to think mathematically.
• 😀 Lamport developed the T+ language to help engineers think mathematically before coding, improving their problem-solving abilities.
• 😀 He explains the difference between non-distributed and distributed computing, emphasizing that distributed systems rely on message-passing rather than shared memory.
• 😀 Lamport’s interest in distributed systems stemmed from a paper by Thomas and Johnson, leading him to explore causality and synchronization in distributed databases.
• 😀 He introduced the concept of state machines to solve distributed system problems, which is now fundamental in the field of distributed computing.
• 😀 Lamport compares his research process to Renoir’s approach to painting, stating that industry problems provide a vast and diverse range of challenges to solve.

Q & A

What was Lesie Lamport's initial understanding of his work in computers?

Lesie Lamport initially saw his work as a programmer and didn't consider it to be scientific. It only dawned on him that he was doing something scientific after publishing enough papers.

What is Lamport's background in education, and how did it influence his approach to computers?

Lamport was educated as a mathematician, and his approach to computers was influenced by his mathematical background. He viewed algorithms in terms of mathematical proofs, believing that an algorithm without a proof is merely a conjecture.

How does Lamport differentiate between programming and coding?

Lamport argues that programming is about designing algorithms, while coding is simply about writing down instructions in a programming language. He compares coding to typing and programming to writing, emphasizing that the mental effort of designing algorithms is far more important.

What is Lamport's opinion on how programming should be taught?

Lamport believes that teaching programming should focus on what the program is supposed to do mathematically, rather than simply teaching coding skills. He criticizes the common approach of teaching coding as a skill separate from the underlying algorithms and concepts.

What challenge does Lamport see in teaching programming in the United States?

Lamport highlights that the mathematical education in the U.S. is poor, which leads to people, including senior programmers, being afraid of mathematics. This lack of mathematical understanding makes it harder for them to grasp programming concepts at a deeper level.

What is T+ and how does it help engineers think mathematically?

T+ is a language developed by Lamport for writing down the ideas that go into a program before coding. It helps engineers think mathematically by allowing them to conceptualize algorithms in a way that fosters better understanding and logical reasoning.

How does Lamport describe distributed systems?

Lamport describes distributed systems as systems where multiple computers are involved, and the failure of one computer can render the system useless. These systems communicate by sending messages between computers, unlike non-distributed systems where different processes share the same memory.

What connection did Lamport make between distributed systems and special relativity?

Lamport drew an analogy between the algorithm of Thomas and Johnson for implementing distributed databases and the concept of causality in special relativity. Just as two observers may perceive events differently in relativity, distributed systems face issues with maintaining a consistent view of events across multiple computers.

What is Lamport's key contribution to the field of distributed systems?

Lamport’s key contribution to distributed systems was the concept of the state machine. He proposed that distributed systems could be modeled as a state machine, ensuring that all computers cooperate to implement a single state machine, solving consistency problems in distributed databases.

What is the bakery algorithm and why does Lamport find it special?

The bakery algorithm is designed to solve the mutual exclusion problem, ensuring that two processes don’t use the same printer at the same time. Lamport finds it special because it works even when the assumption that numbers will be read accurately (e.g., 47 or 100) is violated, making it robust and surprising in its simplicity.