(This article was originally published in php[architect] magazine, in two installments.)
As a general rule, lying to people is a bad idea. People don’t like dishonesty. It’s insulting to lie to a person and tends to destroy relationships both personal and professional.
But computer software isn’t people (thank goodness). Virtually all software today is based on lies, very well-organized and effective lies. Lies make modern computer systems possible.
The latest generation of software deception is “containers.