Why do I program?
Here's a quote from Revenge of the Nerds
Anthony Edwards' character is helping a girl at the computer, she's frustrated and calls the computer inhuman.
"It's not inhuman. Only humans can be inhuman. Here, let me show you. Working with a computer's great. I mean, it's godlike, in a way, cos you can have complete control... You know, some people, they can create with their hands. But when you're working with a computer, you gotta build something with your mind. If you're good, you can do somethin' no one's ever seen before. It's a definite high."
Anthony Edwards' character is helping a girl at the computer, she's frustrated and calls the computer inhuman.
"It's not inhuman. Only humans can be inhuman. Here, let me show you. Working with a computer's great. I mean, it's godlike, in a way, cos you can have complete control... You know, some people, they can create with their hands. But when you're working with a computer, you gotta build something with your mind. If you're good, you can do somethin' no one's ever seen before. It's a definite high."
posted by Lucas @ 1:46 PM
2 Comments:
At 9:42 AM,
Jeff said…
I liked that quote too. My favorite introductions to computer science will say that it's not a science and it's not really about the computer.
Because science is about the natural world and what we do with the computer almost happens in a sort of metaphysical space of symbols. It's more engineering than anything, but unlike any other form of engineering, it's not bound by the same sort of physical constraints.
Not being about the computer is a little more profound because it's true, this idea of computation shouldn't be limited to the computer. The computer is really just a tool, and it's easy to be confused with the tools that you use and the essence of what something is when it's just getting started. (It's too profound to have peaked yet, it's only getting started)
My favorite analogy is still magic. God-like sure, but magic is much more specific. Programming is like writing spells. The heart of the computer is like a spirit that runs the spells in this new, infinitely large virtualized space of symbols. Things can be as detailed or abstract as you want.
Blah... sorry, was getting caught up in it. But yeah, I like the quote. :P
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