Some software is more opinionated than others. If it ever made sense to anthropomorphize software, the CFEngine agent would be a good candidate. A CFEngine installation is a society of independent agents, each with their own goals, schedules and limited view of the world, individually doing their best under current weather.
Mark Burgess’ new book ‘In Search of Certainty’ may be viewed as a popular anthology for the design considerations that went into writing CFEngine. To that end, we are taken on a fast paced journey through topics such as classical and quantum mechanics, information theory, game theory and biology. It is clear that Mark had a lot of fun writing this book, drawing on and connecting dots of an eclectic array of examples from everyday life. Along the way, questions about how to design good tools are explored from a physicist point of view.
If you like popular science of the Roger Penrose variety, you will enjoy reading ‘In Search of Certainty’. If you want a deeper understanding of the backdrop on which CFEngine evolved, the book is indispensable.
Want a signed copy of the book? Mark Burgess will host a book signing in New York, the week of October-14. More details to come.
For a sneak peak into the first chapter of the book click here.
