Programming code as I understand it is language that tells a computer what to do. It has customarily been written by humans. I’ve written it.

Code has to be very literal and deliberate.The machine, traditionally, is clueless as a stump.

Of late, however, it’s being jiggered to look smart with generative AI. Among other things it can spout bull with the worst of us. It can screw you up and rip you off and create many blessings. The prospect makes a man nervous, and a little watchful.

My Java code involved a lot of string handling because I was modeling natural language to create interactive learning tools for high school Spanish students. Before that I had worked on other projects involving English, Spanish and Arabic.

I once felt the need for an algorithm that would generate random words to test for certain traits. I set out to write such a routine — a randomizer. Every approach I tried involved foisting some kind of pattern on the program logic. I could only simulate randomness, if at all.

I wonder if even a God could create true randomness? Would that be chaos? Lacking good answers, I have to believe there’s an insensible pattern to everything. Should that be comforting?

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