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P2P Folder Poetry: An introduction to Re-introducing Yourself to Computers

🌿🕸Download the Garden of Forking Paths and move it to your home folder

SFPC Code Societies
Jan 7th 2020, 6:30 - 9:30pm

What if we could transform our online networks from something we passively receive to something we actively create? Folder Poetry is the practice of using the structure of computer folder organization as a new kind of poetic form like the haiku or iambic pentameter. By naming and nesting folders and files, we can create unfolding narratives, rhythmic prose, and choose-your-own-adventure poetry. In this workshop we will collectively create peer-to-peer folder poetry using the command line and Dat. Through lecture, examples, and writing folder poetry as meditation, we will explore the narrative qualities of folder structures and Dat as a tool for building digital spaces with and for our networks.

In this session we will get intimate with computers and write poetry with their logic. This workshop is an introduction to writing folder poetry, the P2P protocol Dat, and navigating the command line interface using Bash.

Together, we will create living networked poetry through connecting folders on the peer-to-peer web for each other to inhabit and explore.

This workshop assumes no coding experience and simultaneously takes the position that everyone who interacts with computers in some way is already a programmer.

See: Always Already Programming

Terms

  • Folder Poetry is the practice of using the structure of computer folder organization as a new kind of poetic form like the haiku or iambic pentameter. By naming and nesting folders and files, we can create unfolding narratives, rhythmic prose, and choose-your-own-adventure poetry.
  • The Terminal is desktop application to control and make changes to your operating system by typing text commands. In this class we'll use the terminal to create folder poetry.
  • Bash is the programming language we'll use in the terminal, often one line at a time, but we can also put Bash code in a file and run that file.
  • Peer-to-peer computing is a way to make distributed networks in which each computer can act as a server for the others, allowing shared access to files without the need for a central server.
  • Dat is a data distribution tool for publishing on peer-to-peer networks.

Preparation before Class

For Windows 10, check out this preliminary set up guide

2. Install Node & Dat

Run each of these Bash lines one after the other by pasting them in your Terminal application and pressing ENTR. Don't worry if you've never used terminal before or you're not comfortable with it! There will be time in class to install if you dont get to it before class.

  • curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.35.0/install.sh | bash
  • source ~/.bash_profile
  • nvm install --lts
  • nvm use --lts
  • npm install -g dat

3. Read Folder Poetry

Folder Poetry Examples

🎲 Bash & Terminal commands

Command Description
cd change directory
cd .. change directory one level back
ls list contents of directory
pwd print working directory
mkdir foldername create a folder named foldername .
touch dandelion.txt create a file named dandelion.txt
echo "woof woof" > kitty.txt creates a text file called kitty.txt that contains the words, "woof woof"
cat filename.txt print contents of file
rm -rf filename.txt . remove a file or folder this way
mv filename.txt newfilename.txt rename a file
open . (macOS) open the current folder in Finder
explorer.exe . (Windows) open the current folder in Explorer
open filename.txt (macOS) opens file in Text Edit
notepad.exe filename.txt (Windows) opens file in Notepad
cp filename.txt filename2.txt copy file
say "hello, what is poetic computation?" (macOS) speak out loud
man cd show the manual for 'cd'. Press q to quit
source ~/.bash_profile restart your terminal config file

Keyboard Terminal Shortcuts

Command Description
Up + Down Arrow keys scroll through history
Tab Key autocomplete
CMD + CTRL + SPACE Emoji Keyboard (Mac OS)

Editing a text file

command Description
echo "woof woof" > kitty.txt creates a text file called kitty.txt that contains the words, "woof woof"
nano textfile.txt open file in the nano text editor
CTRL + X , y , ENTER exit and save changes

Editing your ~./bash_profile

The ~./bash_profile is a configuration file for the terminal.

  1. nano ~/.bash_profile

    • This command will open your ~./bash_profile in the nano editor

In steps 2 and 3 we will paste 2 aliass AKA shortcuts that will help us visualize our folder poem structures.

  1. alias tree="find . -not -path '*/\.*' -print | sed -e 's;[^/]*/;|;g;s;|; |;g'"

    • (if you have homebrew installed enter brew install tree in another terminal window instead)

  2. alias treefile="find . -not -path '*/\.*' | xargs -I {} bash -c 'f={}; echo \$f | sed -e \"s;[^/]*/;|;g;s;|; |;g\"; if [[ \$f == *.txt ]]; then echo; cat \$f; echo; echo; fi'"

  3. export PS1="🍋 \w\n\u$ "

    • This will customize your Bash prompt. Feel free to change the emoji. (skip if you use zshell)
    • Explanation: \w shows your full file path so you'll always know where you are in the terminal, \n creates a new line in your bash prompt. \u shows your computer username, and $ symoolizes the end of a bash prompt.

  4. source ~/.bash_profile

    • reboot your terminal

🟣 Your Folder Poetry Structure

In your home(~) folder we will have:

  • a folder called folder-society
  • a folder called my-folder-poem
  • inside my-folder-poem is a folder called your-name
  • inside the folder called your-name is where your poem will live

To create the above outlined folder structure using Bash in the terminal:

  • cd
  • mkdir folder-society
  • mkdir my-folder-poem
  • cd my-folder-poem
  • mkdir your-name
  • cd your-name
    • ^ where we'll make our poems

🟣 P2P Folder Poetry Strict Rules

P2P folder poetry has specific requirements in order for your poems to be shared with each other via the Dat protocol. If you don't follow these rules, you will have still created folder poetry, they just wont become P2P folder poetry during this workshop.

The artform of folder poetry is forgiving, Dat is not.

  • 🟣 No empty folders.
  • 🟣 Every file has to contain text in it.
  • 🟣 All lowercase
  • 🟣 No spaces.
  • 🔺Underscores and dashes are ok. for example: my_file.txt or my-file.txt
  • 🟣 All files must have a file extension such as .txt

Variables & Functions

Javascript vs. Python To read a great article on the difference between Javascript and Python, check here!

  • My top-level distinction is Javascript is for making dynamic websites. Javascript lives and breathes in the Browser. - Python, is way more of an all-purpose programming language for millions of computational uses including on the web (in servers but not in the browser).

Variables

  • variables are named containers that hold information. When we name something we can refer to it later. Naming is powerful.
  • words in laguage are like variables. They are named containers that hold meaning. To name something is declare the existance of the thing we are naming. names for words and variables don't emerge from the ether, they are collectively constructed and reaffirmed by people. what are the social histories of the words you speak?

Example Variables in Python:

dog = "woof"
my_fav_number = 7

Example Variables in Javascript:

var dog = "woof";
var myFavNumber = 7
  • Notice the quotations for a variable that contains a line of text (variable type is called a string). Notice that for a variable type of number, there are no quations. Why do you think that is?
  • Notice that in python vs. there are different naming conventions. snake_case vs. camelCase. Why do you think this is? (hint there's not a clear hard and fast answer, it's really just differnet naming conventions for different languages!)

Function

  • A function is a block of reusable code (like a shortcut!) that is used to perform an action. Functions provide modularity for your project and the ability to easily reuse and repurpose code. Technically, any piece of code (from your website to the code that runs Facebook) can be written without using functions but you wouldnt want to do this because your code would then be so long!

  • Lanhguages like Python and Javascript gives you many built-in functions like print(), etc. but you can also create your own functions. These functions are called user-defined functions.

Function in Python:

dog = "woof"

def printme( my_var ):
   print (my_var)
   return

printme(dog)

Function in Javascript:

var dog = "woof";

function printMe(my_var){
  console.log(my_var);
}

printMe(dog);

Part I: Folder Poetry

Reintroduction to computers & computing Programming is about the computer, the programmer, the relationship they have with each other, and the environments they create together.

  • Folders & file systems
  • What is Folder Poetry and how will we be creating it?
  • Discretely categorizing things. The affordances of folders.
  • Examples of folder projects
  • Folders Anonymous

Part II: Terminal & Bash

The Desktop is a lie

  • Terminal and Bash commands
  • Introduction of navigating the command line by walking through the-garden-of-forking-paths
  • Anatomy of Bash Prompt
  • Editing bash_profile

Part III

Making our Folder Poem Poems in Bash

Part IIII: Peer-to-Peer Poetry with Dat

The network is a folder poem, be the poet

  • P2P introduction and description of DAT and "the cloud"
  • Dat is a protocol for sharing data between computers.
  • Dat’s strengths are that data is hosted and distributed by many computers on the network, that it can work offline or with poor connectivity
  • The Distributed Web is about decentralization of servers and control
  • Data on the distributed web is not indexed which means it is not easily searchable
  • We are creating a local network island away from the default(larger) internet
  • Sharing our Poems on the P2P Web

🔮Prompt: Folder Poem as School

What would your speculative liberatory learning environment look like?

Previous prompts have been Folder Poem as Village, Gift, & Home

Gently explore your imagination and think about the following prompt. Feel free to write or sketch based on your reflections but this is not required.

  • Imagine a fantastical physical environment that could hold you and those you want to learn nearby.
  • This school is not like any school that exists. This school does not have to be realistic or adhere to laws of physics.
    • What kinds of rooms, interconnecting hallways, or gardens could be grown? What kinds of activities would learners do in different spaces throughout the school?
    • What kinds of subjects would be taught there? Are their teachers and students or some other set of roles?
    • Do the roles ever change?
    • What are the bathrooms like? How about the furniture? Are there laboratories? Playgrounds? Napping rooms?
    • Consider the kinds of relationships you would like this school to hold & how people could relate to each other differently based on the proximity and content of their learning?
    • Consider how you would like to share space with others in this school. How are different parts of your school accessed and by whom?
    • Are there grades in this school? How are people separated into groups if ever? What are the taxonomies? For ex: traditional school systems will group people by categories such as age, class, geography, "ability", "behavior", and able-bodied-ness.
    • Consider the ephemeral aspects of the school as much as the physical aspects.
    • In this school, how do you communicate and care for each other?
    • What are the emotional qualities of the spaces in this school?
    • What is the weather like around this school?
    • Consider the many forms it could take,
      • A memory palace with many rooms. In each room a memory of something that someone learned in this room by seeing the memory of the last person in this room.
      • A forest of learning folders where each participant is a tree and insect files carry information back and forth between them.
      • A school where each room is devoted to something you would like to learn collectively with those you share a that room with.
      • A multi-generational interconnected courtyard boarding house with rooms for climbing, rooms for growing, rooms for cooking, rooms for singing.

Helpful Codes

👛 if you have a Mac computer and are feeling fancy, i recommend downloading Iterm

Install homebrew

  • /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

For newer Mac's to switch from zsh to bash

  • chsh -s $(which bash)
    OR
  • chsh -s /bin/bash
  • More info here

To remove "(base)" from prepending the bash prompt after installing Anaconda:

  • conda config --set auto_activate_base False
  • source ~/.bash_profile

To change your computer's hostname (Mac)

  • sudo scutil --set HostName new_hostname
  • restart your computer

To install Anaconda (Python 3.7+, 64-bit), follow the instructions for your platform here.

  • Mac OS X: go this page, wait for the download to complete, and run the installer file. Choose all of the installer’s default options. To test your installation, open a terminal window and type “conda”, without quotation marks, and press enter. You should see a different list of arcane commands than those produced by typing “git”.

  • Windows: go to this page, wait for the download to complete, and run the exe file. Choose all of the installer’s default options, except you should reject the suggestion to install Microsoft Visual Studio Code. (Again, we recommend editing text using Atom.) Test your installation by searching for “anaconda prompt” in your system. In the resulting terminal window, type “conda”, without quotation marks, and press enter. You should see a different list of arcane commands than those produced by typing “git”.