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invent: create or design (something that has not existed before); be the originator of.

So invent and design are near synonyms. There are subtle differences, of course. For example, I don't think it would be right to accuse you of designing the distinction you're making here. ;)

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Disagree.

You wouldn't say "Wow you invented a lovely picture of a house" to your kid would you. They drew a picture. Just like a programmer writes a program.

Incidentally, you also wouldn't say "you designed a lovely picture of a house." So the parent's point stands.

Just because create and design are not synonyms doesn't make invent and create synonyms. Invented can be used as a pretentious form of create I guess, but it just makes the subject look like a tool. Edison invented the light bulb is ok, there weren't any economically viable light bulbs before. Eich invented JavaScript just makes Eich look bad though, there were plenty of PLs existing before that Eich borrowed from in his design.

I agree with you that 'designed' is the word he probably ought to use and that 'invented' is pretentious, ... but I don't think it's wrong.

It is not black and white, just not the right shade of gray.

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