Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Programming Zen

You might laugh when you read the title if you are a marketing manager.

Programmers are always being thought as code monkeys. They are the cogs that automate the business requirements. Nobody cares how the developer writes the code as long as it run.


ًWriting VS Programming
Just like writing, code can be written in a whole paragraph or it can be divided in multiple paragraphs.

Just like writing, you can refine your code or you can cut it down.

Just like writing, you can write books or textbooks or novels or even comics.

Just like writing, the more appendices you have the better.

Just like a presentation, the more lines and borders, the more confusing your reader get.

Now Map the paragraphs to classes, books to applications, textbooks to code libraries, novels to ERP and comics to scripts.

There is a zen approach to presentation I believe there is a zen approach to programming.

We will find it.

8 comments:

  1. But I do believe that when writing a program in a dirty coding, then even if it worked but still it will affect the processing of the related application will be in a way or another. The user of the application will sense it at a stage.

    I would like to note also the following, that in the world of everything for every problem there is a solution. The same applies for programing where for every problem there should be a solution. Hence a programmer should never say NO WE Can't DO That...It is better saying that we can but it will cost much...

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  2. @Kamal,
    Thanks for your comment man
    Although I wasn't talking about the QND methods in this post, you are right, Programming Zen should be done with great passion if you are buidling an application for a client.

    however if You are building something quick to prove something (not for longtime usage) as a prototype .. I love to use QND.

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  3. I fully agree with you Hussein. Programming is an art by itself. If you are passionate about it, it will reflect back in the way you code and the way you present your information. I like this Zen approach: it is definitely applicable to your code and to the end-result. Yalla we should see a new book soon entitled Programming Zen :)

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  4. @Elie
    Thanks for the heart-warming comment,

    Yes the Zen approach although I'm not fully aware of all the ways of it but it is an approach not a method to be used, since it could be applied to Presentation, it could be applied to Programming

    I really thank you for the great encouragement Elie you are providing me with

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  5. Zen is a school of thought and a philosophy by itself. It is about the power of simplicity, silence and paradox and about focusing on what's essential. This has also direct implications to the coding since coding reflects the way the developer thinks.

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  6. @Elie,
    So True Elie, I totally agree

    I miss our conversations so much

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  7. Hussein, I do really enjoy your posts but unfortunately cannot always comment. But I promise to do my best. Don't worry, I am keeping a close eye :)

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  8. @Elie
    Yes I know the work pressure you are handling!

    I'm enjoying each of your posts too

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