Some scientific simulations, for example, cannot be fully expressed in either English or with mathematical equations. Yes, you can outline the algorithm in a readable way. You can also summarize the physical principles involved, maybe in a short paragraph. But many ideas are represented by mathematical equations that cannot be solved in closed form. That is, there isn't an equation that sums up the result. So to fully experess the idea itself, one needs computers. (Since you don't always know what the result will be... that's why you're doing the simulation. You have an idea in English, but you don't know what that algorithm will actuall do.)
To obtain a numerical approximation for simulations of some physical phenomena would take a lifetime if done by hand. In this kind of situation, the only way to express ones thoughts and ideas is through code. The only way to fully understand the meaning of the English description or outlined algorithm is to run the program, and perhaps generate some graphic visualisation of the results. (I use Blender to visualize my simulation results, and use Python to do a lot of the animating. If the animated movie itself is protected free speech, then how could the code that generated it not be?)
A single line of this program is no more or less expressive than a single line from a novel. Taken as a whole, both convey a unique message. It could be argued that the program could contain more information, because as a simulation of a physical phenomenon, it expresses information that cannot be obtained in any other way.
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Some scientific simulations, for example, cannot be fully expressed in either English or with mathematical equations. Yes, you can outline the algorithm in a readable way. You can also summarize the physical principles involved, maybe in a short paragraph. But many ideas are represented by mathematical equations that cannot be solved in closed form. That is, there isn't an equation that sums up the result. So to fully experess the idea itself, one needs computers. (Since you don't always know what the result will be... that's why you're doing the simulation. You have an idea in English, but you don't know what that algorithm will actuall do.)
To obtain a numerical approximation for simulations of some physical phenomena would take a lifetime if done by hand. In this kind of situation, the only way to express ones thoughts and ideas is through code. The only way to fully understand the meaning of the English description or outlined algorithm is to run the program, and perhaps generate some graphic visualisation of the results. (I use Blender to visualize my simulation results, and use Python to do a lot of the animating. If the animated movie itself is protected free speech, then how could the code that generated it not be?)
A single line of this program is no more or less expressive than a single line from a novel. Taken as a whole, both convey a unique message. It could be argued that the program could contain more information, because as a simulation of a physical phenomenon, it expresses information that cannot be obtained in any other way.
-another good idea moderated to a 1