Post AvsLyiphPRUf0x9Ob2 by BrodieOnLinux@mstdn.social
 (DIR) More posts by BrodieOnLinux@mstdn.social
 (DIR) Post #AvsL8tvGvrqKLo2yhs by BrodieOnLinux@mstdn.social
       2025-07-07T02:03:46Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       Every so often I think about it but never bothered to look at the history behind the term, does anyone know why we call the tree data structure a tree and not a root structure, with how it's usually depicted roots seem to make more sense as a metaphor. I know the top node is called the root but wouldn't this metaphor make more sense flipped around.
       
 (DIR) Post #AvsLrD6EzhpuZJJ1gO by kaito02@mastodon.social
       2025-07-07T02:11:48Z
       
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       @BrodieOnLinux the thing is the directionality doesn't have to be downward. So the Australia analogy might make sense
       
 (DIR) Post #AvsLyiphPRUf0x9Ob2 by BrodieOnLinux@mstdn.social
       2025-07-07T02:13:09Z
       
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       @kaito02 I know you could draw it the other way round but usually they're drawn extending downwards
       
 (DIR) Post #AvsNzA8E73QpaY9d5M by mausmalone@mastodon.social
       2025-07-07T02:35:37Z
       
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       @BrodieOnLinux I assumed they were named after family trees (what with all the parents, children and siblings) and not trees. So for the answer we'd have to go back to the 1750's.
       
 (DIR) Post #AvsO3VNR46QsdcL4dc by SuperGaytor@mementomori.social
       2025-07-07T02:36:24Z
       
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       @BrodieOnLinux uhhhh something about branches
       
 (DIR) Post #AvsPWnOtEWfWtAY9i4 by DaCool@layer8.space
       2025-07-07T02:52:55Z
       
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       @BrodieOnLinux Thinking about it a little.1) When you write lines from the top down, makes sense to put whatever you start with first.2) Tree has a distinct and more universal appeal, also is more commonly associated with something positive.3) I at-least perceive the branching of a tree more universal as the branching of roots.4) You avoid ambiguity with a <root> node in a <tree> structure..5) At the end of a branch, you can call the last node a leaf. What would be the root equivalent?
       
 (DIR) Post #AvsPpTlyQtCHW6FwSe by BrodieOnLinux@mstdn.social
       2025-07-07T02:56:19Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @DaCool Apparently it's called a root cap
       
 (DIR) Post #AvsQSCgftEafoxF72m by DaCool@layer8.space
       2025-07-07T03:03:19Z
       
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       @BrodieOnLinux I will refrain from the obvious joke that this offers.Also, something something coders spent all day in the dark, or flip the world on it's head, very original jokes yadda yadda
       
 (DIR) Post #AvsTQ96WXZKBzX2mbg by GoemonIshikawa@tweesecake.social
       2025-07-07T03:36:32Z
       
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       @BrodieOnLinux You know even though I'm not a programmer but I do know some programming structures I've wondered about that for a bit myself, my guess is it's called that because each kind of data that's given has or will have something to do with the main root of the collected structure, kinda like how the accessibility or UI tree has your root that's the window title and everything like your checkboxes and so on, or the branches of the tree will just sorta relate or reflect what you're working with, in this event the application. As to why it's top first well that's an easier answer I guess but let me know if I'm wrong. Now you probs know this a hell of a lot more than I do, but computers handle things in sequence, that's unless they're told not to. Every program has to start from an action that'll take command as the beginner, if you're using AngelScript it's void main, sorry I don't know the exact syntax. To the computer this looks like the top of your program and a start to do something from  nothing, hence the meaning void main or at least that's my understanding of it. If you were to make an element like a button before anything was ever drawn to the screen, your users may not know for a bit of what app they're working in, as buttons or in this event this button, will take command as the start to your structure. If you want to know more on this you can ask @esoteric_programmer he's much more understanding of this than I. Btw what's this image?
       
 (DIR) Post #AvsnLamSDAShSmlKnA by alg0w@social.vivaldi.net
       2025-07-07T07:19:50Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       @BrodieOnLinux idk, maybe it is a cultural thing that "root" node – the most important node must be sitting on the top. Also terminology (parent, child, sibling, etc) is borrowed from genealogy.