Why Are You a Programmer?
Published: August 21st, 2008There’s the immense geekiness factor, and there’s the logic factor, but, what are your reasons?
Expectations
To set the frame of mind initially, this is meant for those who are full-time programmers.
a/s/l ?
After being around a lot of job offers, resumes, etc, of the programming world, I’ve realized that there is quite an array (array, lol) of programmers. Most would think it’s your typical unhealthy geek, slamming away at the keyboard while green text whizzes by like The Matrix. What I’ve come to realize, is that Programmers really come in all shapes and sizes, and that’s good, but it’s let me to one big question: “Why are you a programmer?”. To get into this industry, you’ve had to love it at one point, but when you’re working day to day, full-time, do you still love programming because it’s full of geekiness, or do you do it for the money?
There’s always more to it…
Now of course, it’s not that black and white. There’s definitely exceptions, there’s the feeling where you may not enjoy a particular project you’re working on, but you still like crunching away logically to solve it, and that immense amount of logic crunching in your brain practically gives you a hard on. Oh wait, did I just say that out loud? That’s actually the reason I program, logic-crunching-hard-ons, but, let’s continue: What about the scenario where you feel like a code monkey? We’ve all felt it, it’s the feeling that occurs when all of the sudden you realize you’re getting paid x amount of dollars for a product that will deliver (if successful) xxxxxxxxx and then some amount of dollars to it’s owner’s. How does that make you feel?
We’ve all felt it… right?
I’d lie to say I never felt like a code monkey in my programming career though, and those are the days I hate most, because not only do I feel like I’m wasting my time, but I also feel like I deserve more than what’s going on. This question also comes down to, what’s coming out of your time? Is it just your paycheck, and the paycheck of the owner of this product? What good is this work that is being produced?
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out buddy!
Also, one more question, can you see yourself programming your entire life until retirement?
This isn’t a rant by any means, it’s just food for thought. After all, I admitted programming pleases me sexually. :)
I feel that programming is the only job where you can continuously build on the stuff you already created/learned, whereas in most other jobs you have to start all over, which triggers my anti-repetition alert.
“After all, I admitted programming pleases me sexually. :)”
I could supply you with a lifetime worth of veryyy dirty code ;)
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been into inventing, innovating and making things people find useful. When I was younger I always said “I want to be an inventor.”
Problem was, I was always broke, and buying and breaking my toys to see how they work was costly.
What attracted me to coding was primarily the fact that it can be done anywhere, anytime (no noise problems, etc), and all the “raw materials” and tools are available, most for free. It always wasn’t messy in the traditional sense.
Do I see myself coding till retirement? No. I work as a developer now, and will work in the field for awhile, but I tend to jump into unrelated hobbies and ventures when my curiosity dwindles.
I’m currently a neurochemistry student, and plan on minoring in advertising or art.
Here is a simple test to figure out if you are a programmer: Do you wonder how to throw away a garbage can?
Well, for one, I am not a Programmer. I am Software Developer… I do a lot more than just program. But semantics aside, the creative aspects is what keeps the daily stress of this work manageable, but is not the motivator.
The reason I do this job is that it provides me with the best opportunity to make a lasting impact on the world. At the end of the day, I can honestly say that I’ve developed software has helped to save lives.
Are there other jobs that offer this opportunity? Definitely.
Could I do those other jobs as well as I do this job? Probably not.
I don’t even have to be in the top 1% of your field to make a real impact in software development… I just have to find the right project.
Programming is the closed humanity has come to directly experiencing the divine nature as their own. It is an art form which, properly applied, recreates humanity from within. Rather than religious, political or difficult inter-human reforms, one who produces a new system allows people with the same desires to congregate in a way that is hard to eradicate and even pinpoint - like how many linux users are there? Who knows! In a world where statistics are the way power structures control masses by way of perception and coercion, the independent programmer is a manifestation of the universal creator who cannot be maligned by columns of data and relegated to jurisdictions. We make worlds.
*closest
I can’t really say why i am a programmer..I can’t explain it. I think this question is analogous to asking an artist why he’s an artist. Steve Jobs said it best…Plus, being in the zone is sort like being high on drugs. Except its safer.
I will code until i die. I do it because i love it.
For the Love of Creation.
yet not a programmer, but is surely is fun… specially when you do something challenging, solving programming problems gives the maximum thrill.
and by the way nice design! love it!
[...] Check it out here. [...]
Interesting you post about this, I just thought about this myself not too long ago, there are a huge array (i prefer hashes personally lol). I came to the realization that i no longer love programming as a whole, now that I’ve worked full time programming, I don’t like seeing a project from start to finish, the fine details for each individual button or javascript beauty, I used to, but not anymore. I’ve realized that I love research of programming and find details specifically on making taking a project and making it better, or finding the new amazing technology out there and passing that research on to programmers for them to put into the projects for me.
Ready. Set. Go.
In terms of the formatting, you're allowed to use markdown, textile, or basic html; it's truly up to you -- what strikes your fancy?
You don't have to worry about your e-mail address being sold to a russian-spam-mafia. I'm only going to use it for my own weird needs; like asking you out for a date on a lonely night of coding.