131K views · Nov 21, 2012 · 42:34 · 5 HN recommenders · 9 mentions · discussed 2015–2025
A standing whiteboard conversation at Lang.NEXT 2012 among Carl Hewitt, Erik Meijer and Clemens Szyperski about the actor model. Hewitt, who originated the model, explains its foundations.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN recommends it as the best video introduction to the actor model, straight from its inventor, and revisited it after Hewitt's death.
“It's truly a masterclass.”HN comment, 2023
“Your discussion[0] with Meijer and Szyperski was mind-blowing and taught me a lot about the actor model.”
Mind-blowing discussion that teaches the actor model
I'm sorry to go completely off-topic here, but I just wanted to say thank you! Your discussion[0] with Meijer and Szyperski was mind-blowing and taught me a lot about the actor model. This was, hands down, one of the best classes I've ever had. Thanks for sharing this knowledge. [0] - this video
“It's truly a masterclass.”
Masterclass conversation on the actor model with Hewitt
May he RIP. I first heard about Hewitt after watching this[0] conversation about the actor model. It's truly a masterclass. For those who want to learn more about the actor model, or simply have a fond memory of ProfHewitt, I highly recommend it. [0] - this video
“This is one of my favorite tech talks.”
Favorite tech talk on the actor model
This is one of my favorite tech talks. Hewitt, Meijer and Szyperski: The Actor Model (everything you wanted to know but are afraid to ask) this video
“I highly recommend this entertaining 45-minute explainer by Carl Hewitt”
Entertaining 45-minute explainer on actor model foundations from Hewitt
For anyone interested in a deeper dive into the foundations of the Actor Model, I highly recommend this entertaining 45-minute explainer by Carl Hewitt, one of the model’s original pioneers: this video
“For those who like to learn from videos, here is an interview/lesson from Carl Hewitt”
Interview and lesson on the actor model from its inventor
For those who like to learn from videos, here is an interview/lesson from Carl Hewitt (he introduced the model): this video
“This really helped me”
Clarifies actor model versus communicating sequential processes
> so different in an actor vs a queue with workers In short: different computational model -- Actor model vs. Communicating sequential processes. This really helped me: this video Edit: added link to video
“let's not forget to give credit to Carl Hewitt who came up with actors in the first place”
Carl Hewitt discussing the actor model he originated
Indeed, Joe Armstrong once said that he believes Erlang to be the only OO language according to Alan Kay's idea [1]. Also, let's not forget to give credit to Carl Hewitt who came up with actors in the first place [2]. [1] link [2] this video
“quoting Prof Carl Hewitt of Actor Model,”
Hewitt argues goto is harmless
What do you think about hierarchical state machine [1] ? >Has it already been through state X? Like everything else, logging >Will it come back to this state in the future? Mentioned in the comment before, there is a transition graph that you can do static analysis on, note that you might run into a halting problem >Is there a route from state Y to state Z? There is a transition graph >State machines are effectively goto writ large... quoting Prof Carl Hewitt of Actor Model, "goto is harmless"[2], function/procedure call is a goto, much like sending an named event while in particular state with/out parameters [1] link [2] this video note: edited for formatting
Background on the actor model
Absolutely I would. Everyone has their opinion about Microsofts products, but the platform and frameworks that underpin them are rock solid, long-time battle-tested in production, and easy to work with as a developer. A .net stack comes with the comforting knowledge that this technology will never be made obsolete. It will undergo active development and will have support for many years to come. One day, long into the future, it will be super seeded by something else. When that happens, you know there will be a migration path because Microsoft has based their own business on it, and they need it for themselves, and all of their customers need it. .net does not go away tomorrow because something shinier showed up. That's nice to know. You will find that you will have a very stable and mature stack that is well integrated with Azure making deployment and testing easy. Was I to build a microservice application, I would not choose Kubernetes. I would choose the Microsoft Service Fabric Actor model over anything else that is out there. Service Fabric is Microsoft Secret Sause. It is the technology that underpins the Azure Platform itself. Service Fabric has a beautiful actor model that makes the development of cloud-based applications as simple as writing a single threaded console application. Service Fabric and Kubernetes: community comparison [1] The Actor Model [2] [1] link [2] this video
