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Discussion on: What common programming concept has the wrong name?

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elmuerte profile image
Michiel Hendriks

Cloud computing.

In networking diagrams the "outside" network (usually the internet) is commonly shown as a cloud symbol. It is a network of unknown computers what can connect to your network. This symbolic is used as the basis of the term "cloud computing".

But it makes no sense. As the computers involved in cloud computing are known in your system design. They are named entities to and from which you connect. These computers might be dynamically allocated, and not yours. But this was also the case in large mainframe setups in "the old days".

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DannyMeister

Agreed, El Muerte! I'm on a cloud project now, and have to find a way for the name to stop irking me.

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Samuel

Then use the term, "Cluster Computing." Cloud Computing was a term made up by non-programmers. Early books on Beowulfs use the analogy in the illustrations, but not in technical aspects.