How to Discover the Binary System as a Child • Simon Peyton Jones & Chelsea Troy

This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted.
https://gotopia.tech

Simon Peyton Jones - Key Contributor of Haskell & Engineering Fellow at Epic Games
Chelsea Troy - MLOps Tech Lead at Mozilla & Lecturer at University of Chicago

RESOURCES
Simon
https://simon.peytonjones.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_P...
  / simonpj  

Chelsea
https://chelseatroy.com
https://social.clawhammer.net/@HeyChe...
  / chelseatroy  

Links
https://www.barefootcomputing.org
https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/...
(https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/...) https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/...
(https://www.computingatschool.org.uk/...) https://chelseatroy.com/2025/05/14
(https://chelseatroy.com/2025/05/14/th...) https://computingeducation.org.uk
https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog
(https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/why-...)
DESCRIPTION
Simon discusses how a simple math problem led him to discover the binary system 55 years ago. He explores how to maintain the essence of computational thinking in an era where AI can instantly solve coding problems, emphasizing concrete, motivated contexts over abstract algorithms.

The discussion spans from elementary programming to his unique role as a computing fellow at Epic Games, where he works with CEO Tim Sweeney to design the Verse programming language, proving that even big companies can prioritize denotational semantics over quarterly profits.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Simon Peyton Jones • The Implementation of Functional Programming Languages • https://amzn.to/3HQE0Xn
Chelsea Troy • Remote Work Sucks • https://heychelse (https://heychelseatroy.gumroad.com/l/...)
Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer... (https://thefoliumdiary.buzzsprout.com)
YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.


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