How programming works

[andrewducker]

  A novice programmer was once assigned to code simple financial
  package.

  The novice worked furiously for many days, but when his master
  reviewed his program, he discovered that it contained a screen
  editor, a set of generalized graphics routines, an artificial
  intelligence interface, but not the slightest mention of anything
  financial.

  When the master asked about this, the novice became indignant.
  "Don't be so impatient," he said, " I'll put in the financial stuff
  eventually."

===

  A manager asked a programmer how long it would take him to finish
  the program on which he was working. "I will be finished tomorrow,"
  the programmer promptly replied.

  "I think you are being unrealistic," said the manager, "Truthfully,
  how long will it take?"

  The programmer thought for a moment. "I have some features that I
  wish to add. This will take at least two weeks," he finally said.

  "Even that is too much to expect," insisted the manager, "I will be
  satisfied if you simply tell me when the program is complete."

  The programmer agreed to this.

  Several years later, the manager retired. On the way to his
  retirement lunch, he discovered the programmer asleep at his
  terminal. He had been programming all night.

From The Tao Of Programming - which like all the best zen texts made no sense the first time I read it and now seems incredibly obvious in its wisdom.

Comments

[bracknellexile.livejournal.com]

Personally, I'm printing this bit out and pinning it to the wall:

"A program should follow the 'Law of Least Astonishment'. What is this law? It is simply that the program should always respond to the user in the way that astonishes him least."

[meihua.livejournal.com]

The Tao and Zen are not quite the same thing!

Also, cultural hijacking blah, blah, I don't know if I have the effort for this.

Anyway, it's a fun link. :)

[andrewducker]

I'm in favour of cultural hijacking - I think the idea that culture belongs to anyone is horrific. I'm _not_ in favour of the denigration of other people's culture, or racism through appropriation of other's cultures. But I'm definitely in favour of being a cultural magpie.

[meihua.livejournal.com]

So let's take sacred language and make fun of it! Also we'll take our programming jokes and drape them in Chinese robes so they look all Exotic.

I'm only half-hearted here, actually. The zen masters who wrote some of the old koans would probably roll their eyes and laugh at this. :)

[andrewducker]

Also - I know that Taoism and Zen Buddhism are not the same thing - I was merely remarking that it had a similarity in that things that seem opaque and cryptic in advance frequently seem obvious and wise later. But I could have definitely been clearer about that!

[andrewducker]

Absolute.y

And I'm definitely in favour of taking sacred language and making fun of it.

[undeadbydawn.livejournal.com]

not very related, but many years ago [when I was young and permanently intoxicated] I used to be asked for advice from friends, all the time. I would tell them what I thought was the simplest and most direct solution to any problem I was given.

My advice was very rarely taken. In almost every case, the friend would come to me months later and simply say 'you were absolutely right. I just couldn't see it'.

I still see life in much the same way, but stopped doing the advice thing long, long ago.

[andrewducker]

I tend to find that most people know exactly what they should do - if you offered them their situation and asked them what they'd recommend, then they'd tell you the exactly right thing. They just don't want to follow their own advice.