JonyBr

Many of you might think the post is about an author and hence best fit in literature forum, or the sci & technology or even computers bcos it talks about the programming or even arts cos there is an artistic touch from the author. but i chose to post this in philosophy forum bcos the intention is to inspire the vision of the author which is truely philosophical rather than anything else.

Charles Petzold holds a legendary image in programmer's world, and he is one of my favorite author, and sometimes he truely inspires me. Here r some lines from his book, and u might relate to them if -- you are a programmer





"Late at night, when the day’s work is done but the brain is still buzzing, programmers have sometimes been known to ask themselves this question: Is programming an art or a science?

Surely it seems like a bit of both. As an artist, the programmer starts with a palette of basic tools, spreads open a canvas as wide as available memory, and with a dash of inspiration begins fashioning a unique creation where once existed only random bits. But the canvas can’t be decorated with complete anarchic abandon. The syntactical rules that govern the tools of programming may allow an infinite variety of constructions, but at the same time they are as strict and unrelenting as the laws of nature.

Programmers are the designers and builders, architects and bricklayers, visionaries and engineers of the modern age. The edifices we build become the global cities of the future, an ever-expanding series of links and connections between people, communities, and information, often with a beauty truly admired only by those who share our passion. To nonprogrammers, our creations are rarely respected—unacknowledged when they work correctly, cursed when they fail, and abandoned when they become superseded—even as they become ever more essential to users’ lives.

A computer program is a magnificent machine. Were it to be implemented with whirling gears, levers, and pistons, it would fill our rooms with a music of breathtaking complexity. We’d see logic in motion, algebra in action, a dance of data. A strange vision, yes, but that’s really the perspective the programmer sees, as pieces of a program are fitted together with a precision unmatched by machinery in the corporeal world. Few joys in life come close to the thrill of getting a new program working, seeing it suddenly blink awake and take life before your eyes.

Such joys are never experienced by the vast majority of computer users. Most people who use computers these days aren’t programmers and never will be. They instead simply run applications—word processors, e-mail programs, Web browsers—that other people have programmed, or they use appliances—cell phones, DVD players, bread machines—that have computer programs embedded deep inside.”

words

Very Interesting stuff mate, I like Charles Petzold's work as well. He is a good author, But As i had worked as a professional software developer, I doubt one can perceive programming as an Art and survive in this corporate world.

A programmers life is often surrounded by strict dealines, little domain kowledge to work with and very high expectation of quality, The skill that a programmer needs much is the crisis management. Because that's what you have to face on many days at work.

But as a hobby its right there is alot of Artistic elements in the way programmers usually work.

JonyBr

^if u r working for $$$$ than any art form can die just as easy ....sigh

words

You have put so many $$$$ to represent money, For a moment i doubted that you live in Pakistan, and don't know how they pay even for extreme kind of hard work

I don't work for high money, i just work for survival, but in a country like Pakistan mere survival don't come easy, you can never live to their expectations, That's the key to their management, they will always make you feel that its not enough, because they think your expectations are best managed in that way.

I do agree to your core point...

JonyBr

I apologize if i hurt ur feelings, there were so many $ signs bcos i m lazy, once my finger was on the key i was too lazy to take it off

I understand what u mean and i agree, its been 2 years i havent done anything creative, just what is required. but i do feel, deep inside somewhere that artist is still alive ....i hope

words

Good to know about your artist, Keep it alive. It represents what we really are, and always needs to listen to like a child.