Wunki

Top seven reasons "Why I love to write code".

I love to write code. Programming is one of the things in live that make me happy. Next are the top seven reasons why I love programming.

7: Being a niche.

Not many of the people I know, know how to program or let alone setup their computer. If they see you work with the computer, they are awed (and think you're a geek). It's the same kind of 'aw' as when I see a physicist work on or with a formula. For me it's total incomprehensible, for him it's easy as pie. Because many people are still mystified by computers, you are the one they call when something goes wrong. Repairing a computer per week means that once a week I don't have to buy a meal. It also means that I can be of positive value for my sisters.

6: There is always more to learn.

In every field there is always a lot more to learn, but I think that the programming field is one of which the knowledge within the field grows the fastest. Not a day goes by that you haven't learned something that makes you a better programmer. New methodologies, faster implementations and easy automations. A benefit of our field is also that all the knowledge is easily obtainable, almost always for free on the web. Google is our friend, and because of our technological edge, we know how to use it to find that knowledge that is hidden from others.

5: Solitary.

I will admit that I'm a bit of a loner. A loner in the sense that I love to sit alone in my room and work on my programming skills. Being a programmer is a perfect companion of this disorder. Me and a drink are going strong into a wild night of writing classes (writing this even freaked me out, but it's the truth, you know it).

4: Proud of your work.

You have used the newest technology. Your L.O.C. couldn't be better suited to the type of program. The software runs smoothly without a crash and people are using your world. The world which you created with your rules. These of things you could be proud of because it took you long nights to create.

3: Tools of the trade.

We get to use great tools. Biggest first, we get to play with the computer and understand what they are doing. To this computer are connected nicely clicking keyboards and smooth sailing mice. The screen is crisp clean and perfectly adjusted to your tasting. Besides the hard stuff, there is also our software. Love to P.I.M.P. my IDE. New short cuts, macros and themes are things of joy.

2: You help others.

The software you create is often used by others. They are using your software to enrich their live. Seeing it used is one of the joys of a programmer. You weren't the only one who seemed to think such a program could come in handy. The (positive) feedback makes you want to create another great product which is even better, bigger and softer.

1: I am the creator of worlds.

I create worlds and say "Hello" to them. Being able to program I am able to create a new world with my rules. Every person in my world must have a nickname that is alphanumeric and a password of at least eight characters which identifies who he/she is. Every person tells me what they are doing and my validators tell me if it's illegal. It's great to be able to create your own world in which nothing is impossible and everything acts as you made it to.

Conclusion.

I tried to be more mainstream and write ten things. But I think that for now these seven will cover it. If you can name the other three reasons, let me know..

Comments

1: miguel rodriguez said on 6:10 a.m. on mei 29, 2008

I coudn't agree more

2: Rizal said on 9:12 a.m. on mei 29, 2008

I love to write code because sometimes you get to produce something beautiful, in both an aesthetic and a semantic sense. A piece of code that is properly indented, that follows a naming convention consistently, that uses meaningful variable and method names, that solves a problem elegantly and succinctly is a joy to behold.

Programming is an art; beautiful code is a piece of art.

(BTW found this your blog via HN)

3: Petar Radosevic said on 9:19 a.m. on mei 29, 2008

Nicely said Rizal, coding can be art indeed.

BTW, what do you mean with HN?

4: Antonio Cangiano said on 11:26 a.m. on mei 29, 2008

@Petar

HN = Hacker News (news.ycombinator.com)

5: Petar Radosevic said on 12:10 p.m. on mei 29, 2008

@Antonio: Thanks! Didn't know this one yet. Bookmarked.

6: Topher Johnson said on 7:35 p.m. on mei 29, 2008

My favourite thing about writing code is when you finally fix that bug that's taken 2 or 3 days. Seeing your program work the way you wanted it is such a rush.

7: Andrew Badera said on 10:07 p.m. on mei 29, 2008

I code for the chicks, man. Duh.

8: Petar Radosevic said on 10:27 p.m. on mei 29, 2008

@Topher Johnson: Agree, satisfaction is sweet.

@Andrew Badera: Geeks will be the new rock artists, just wait..

9: Jams said on 1:31 a.m. on mei 30, 2008

While I agree with most of these, and I enjoy your enthusiastic style of writing, I have to raise an objection to your #5, Peter.

You may think you like being solitary, but I suspect that this is an effect of technological determinism. That is, I believe that a lot of what we think we "enjoy" is actually what we have calculated to enjoy, based on pre-existing conditions.

If you were raised on a farm, you'd likely enjoy manual labor. And so forth.

Also, I strongly suggest checking into Disqus comments. They've been a great addition to my own blog.

10: Sunkist said on 7:15 p.m. on juni 29, 2008

Very True. I hope to one day be proud of the stuff I do again. Im getting out of a company that hasn't moved forward in 6 years, and starting my own business with friends. Soon!

11: D said on 7:19 p.m. on juni 29, 2008

Perfect list.. Loved the inside joke in #1.

12: Luis' Parenthesis said on 11:31 p.m. on juni 29, 2008
  1. it's a rather crowded niche, but it's a nice skill to have, like writing and counting
  2. there is waaay too much to learn, too many details to grasp in order to really grow as a person
  3. it can get alienating
  4. it depends on the sort of code you have to settle with
  5. makes me want to build something with my hands, sometimes
  6. it depends on the politics of your masters, really
  7. I may look like a geeky little thing, but I really am a god! wahahahahahaha!
13: skrapasor said on 2:51 a.m. on juni 30, 2008

i stopped reading when i read "bye a meal"

14: shenaniguns.com said on 9:02 a.m. on juni 30, 2008

Programmers are awesome. My friend is a web developer / graphic artist who just build his first e commerce site at the age of 23. Check it out if you want, im excited for him. www.shenaniguns.com

15: Nils said on 11:10 a.m. on juni 30, 2008

I think your coding skills are the same as your writing skills: they both blow balls.

16: Petar Radosevic said on 9:49 a.m. on juli 1, 2008

@skrapasor: corrected. @nils: nice attitude.

17: Mike said on 11:38 p.m. on juli 5, 2008

I'm a wannabe coder, but I think all of you that can really create are awesome. You hold the blueprints and control the civilized world, thanks for making it a better place.

18: dasturi said on 3:11 p.m. on juli 6, 2008

coding sucks, been doing it for 10 years now, WHEN will this STOP?

19: Petar Radosevic said on 4:41 p.m. on juli 6, 2008

Mike: I you want to be a coder, just grab a beginners book and start coding. Anyone kan learn it.

Dasturi: It stops when you want it to stop.

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