2026-05-03 20:11 • 150 words

Towards the end of UNIX: A History and a Memoir Brian Kernighan reflects on the properties that made Bell Labs an extraordinarily fertile intellectual environment. He lists stability (money, resources, mission, structure, management and culture being consistent and predictable), problem-richness, quality of hiring, technically competent managers, cooperativeness and, last but not least, fun. What a contrast to - let's face it: basically any corporation one might be employed at.

It takes effort to build and maintain an organization whose members like and respect each other, and who enjoy each other's company. This can't be created by management fiat, nor by external consultants; it grows organically from the enjoyment of working together, sometimes playing together, and appreciating what others do well.

So, when even in a competently managed organization with the means and will to take a long-term view it still takes considerable effort, I can only conclude with Dante: Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate.