Explore the fundamental nature of distributed systems in this thought-provoking conference talk delivered by Kevlin Henney at NDC London 2025. Step beyond the daily challenges of web calls, databases, microservices, and remote interactions to understand the core principles that limit possibilities and shape everything from user experience to architecture and code implementation. Rather than focusing on specific APIs, SDKs, middleware, or architectural styles, gain perspective on distributed computing through the lenses of history, physics, code, and entertainment. Delve into fascinating concepts including causality, clocks, relativity, CAP theorem, and the fallacies of distributed computing. Perfect for developers seeking to understand the theoretical underpinnings that influence their practical work in distributed environments.