In my opinion, there are two kinds of software developers out there. There are the kind that do it because they need the paycheck (a programmer) and there are the kind that do it because they are passionate about it (a hacker). The latter of which I’m going to talk about today.
A hacker loves programming like a poet loves to write. If you think about it, the two things are not too dissimilar. In writing, there is a language, and there is grammar. The poet combines these two to make something that is greater than the sum of its parts. In programming, there is a language, and there is syntax. A good piece of software is so much more than a bunch of symbols on a computer screen. A good hacker can change the way a company, or the world works.
Many people hate or fear programming the way I hate and fear writing poetry. At the same time, I have so much appreciation for what those people do. Writing good poetry is not easy and not everyone can do it. It takes practice. Even more, it take passion.
A hacker is such an unusual creature. Often found in the dark, hunched over his keyboard, staring into the sterile white glow of the large black CRT monitor (higher budget geeks may have them newfangled LCD screens), these creatures should never be compared to accountants and insurance brokers. These people are artist. They aren’t just huddling in the corner, fondling their calculators. They are creating.
I bring all this up today because one of the people at the top of the ladder of the company I work for asked that we remove the sign Ben put up over our work area. My direct boss is an awesome manager of creative professionals. He really understands the needs of us hackers, being one himself. We love working for him. The man that ordered the death of our sign is a great businessman. He has done wonderful things with this company. But I don’t think he understands the very specific needs of the hacker.
We were quite upset when we came in this morning to find that our beautiful sign had been banished. Though, I’m sure he was equally upset when he saw the thing this morning. I don’t blame him for disliking it. I can totally understand him being upset that his employees would label themselves “Lowly Programmers.”
My point is, those of you have nerdy friends or call that geeky kid down the street every time your computer breaks, appreciate your geeks. They are passionate people and they will make your life and maybe even your world better someday. You don’t have to understand the poetry to respect the poet.
It’s six am. I’m still up. Why? No reason. My brother once said, there are only two days in the week. There is Weekday, then there is Weekend. I am a firm believer in this. I never know what the crap day it is. I didn’t even know it was Friday till my boss slapped my paycheck on my desk. It’s quite difficult for me to keep it all straight in my head. It’s not that I’m all drugged out or anything; I just never sleep.
