yihanwu1024

I am currently a theoretical computer science master’s student at Chalmers University of Technology. Before that, I obtained degrees in computer science, analytic philosophy and user experience design at the University of Minnesota. Malleable software has been my dream since high school.

My most notable argument in the substrates realm is the nonlinear operating system ^[1] for personal computing. In contrast to linear (step-by-step, sequential, old state destroyed) software interaction, it is beneficial to introduce system-level history and replay features, and allow concepts (types) to emerge by relating to certain parts of history. This results in an append-only operating system. I expect this idea to subsume personal computing systems where data storage is indispensable, decomposing them to small, manageable, usually pure (functional programming) components.

I am working on a limited implementation of this nonlinear operating system ^[1:1]. It is very incomplete as of 2026-02.

My other arguments also play with the idea of simply not destroying old state in software design. In one example, I designed navigation paradigms ^[2] to this principle.

I have previously developed a documentation framework ^[3] that supports transclusion, full uncompromised history, collaboration, and reference tracking. It provoked some of my thoughts, and it powers my personal website.

My research taste is the result of my philosophical inquiry, and it will continue to be. For ^[1:2] to fully realize its potential, we must know how everyday concepts emerge from history. This can easily be decades of collective intellectual work, assisted by tools that faithfully track interaction. Intriguingly, I find my philosophy pragmatic, fueled by the instinct of unifying thought and practice, especially when it comes to computers.