> I don't know what is being said here. Are you saying that women or people of color would implement software differently from a white male?
Fair enough. This is a very broad question though. The answer is "yes", but this doesn't imply that any specific algorithm would be more associated with women or men. It implies that when it comes to deciding WHAT to make, decisions may end up being different.
Software, even libraries, is a lot more than selecting an algorithm and implementing it. Everything from setting a feature calendar to implementation are shaped by people's perceptions of who their "customer" (if you will excuse the product metaphor) are.
> You seem to think that there is something being missed by the Poster you are replying to but I can't figure out what it is exactly.
I think the poster is holding a pretty untenable position but I'm trying to softball it, because I could be much harsher about it.
You cannot advocate for diversity and then suggest that things that would substantially impact someone's experience wouldn't shape their thought. Unless the poster genuinely believes that racism and sexism don't exist in our society or industry, that kind of experience MUST shape people's experiences. And if they do believe that it doesn't, it's a fantasy world they're living in.
But of course I'd rather not pick a fight this way. It's not terribly productive on Hacker News, I've learned, even if it's true. When it comes to matters of race and gender, folks here are much less interested in outcomes and a "tell-it-like-it-is" mindset than with, say, how to architect a small distributed system for growth.