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THE LAWS OF SOFTWARE PROCESS
hardware (although much greater) operating across a well-defined range of
“normal operations.” The self-modification capability of software is high.
Modify Surroundings. Software shares with thought in the brain that it
cannot of itself affect the outside world, but must do so though some phys-
ical agency. Once we get over that hurdle, software can do pretty much
anything humans can go and a lot more. Software can actually fly a plane,
restock shelves, drill for oil, and make drugs. Given the right (hardware)
interface, software’s ability to modify its surroundings is relatively unlim-
ited.
Building on Knowledge
DNA first made knowledge, of any sort, storable. It also made it applica-
ble and provided the basis, the medium, ...