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Joined 11 months ago
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Cake day: August 9th, 2023

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  • As an example, Klipper (for running 3d printers) can update its configuration file directly when doing certain automatic calibration processes. The z-offset for between a BLtouch bed sensor and the head, for example. If you were to save it, you might end up with something like this:

    [bltouch]
    z_offset: 3.020
    ...
    #*# <---------------------- SAVE_CONFIG ---------------------->
    #*# DO NOT EDIT THIS BLOCK OR BELOW. The contents are auto-generated.
    #*#
    [bltouch]
    z_offset: 2.950
    

    Thus overriding the value that had been set before, but now you have two entries for the same thing. (IIRC, Klipper does comment out the original value, as well.)

    What I’d want is an interface where you can modify in place without these silly save blocks. For example:

    let conf = get_config()
    conf.set( 'bltouch.z_offset', 2.950 )
    conf.add_comment_after( 'bltouch.z_offset', 'Automatically generated' )
    conf.save_config()
    

    Since we’re declaratively telling the library what to modify, it can maintain the AST of the original with whitespace and comments. Only the new value changes when it’s written out again, with a comment for that specific line.

    Binary config formats, like the Windows Registry, almost have to use an interface like this. It’s their one advantage over text file configs, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re just too lazy to bother.









  • Just to pick out one thing, Iraq was very deliberately setup by the Bush Administration. They put specific effort into falsifying evidence to support an invasion. There’s no particular reason to believe Iraq would have been invaded by Gore.

    A major issue in the run up to 9/11 was a coordination failure due to a delayed Administration transition. It’s hard to say for sure, but it’s quite possible 9/11 doesn’t even happen if it’s a direct transition between Clinton and Gore.

    Oh, and we’d probably be in the ICC. The treaty was finalized towards the end of Clinton’s run, he was in favor of it, but he left it to the next Admin to decide what to do with it. Bush Admin canned it.