Hasty Briefsbeta

Bilingual

How can you not be romantic about programming? (2020)

9 hours ago
  • #software-metaphors
  • #code-romance
  • #programming-culture
  • The text compares programming to baseball, highlighting moments of romance and awe in the process of creating and managing code.
  • Programmers often describe their work with emotional and artistic terms, such as 'beautiful,' 'hacky,' or 'like a poem,' rather than just as technical instructions.
  • Code can be written by individuals over long periods or collaboratively by hundreds across borders, with some lines being old and rarely executed, while others are critical to systems.
  • The world of programming is vast, layered, and fragile, evoking a sense of magic and wonder at the collective effort, talent, and creativity involved.
  • The author suggests that with experience, one appreciates the scale and artistry of programming, leading to a romantic view akin to that in sports or other fields.