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  3. Is programming an art or a science?

Is programming an art or a science?

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  • M Offline
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    Marc Clifton
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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    • M Marc Clifton

      Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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      Tim Smith
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Science. Thinking of it as an art does no good and only causes you to come up with useless and silly opinions about programming. :) Tim Smith I'm going to patent thought. I have yet to see any prior art.

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      • M Marc Clifton

        Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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        peterchen
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Both, and you can compensate lack of one with the other.


        If I could find a souvenir / just to prove the world was here   [sighist]

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        • M Marc Clifton

          Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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          Navin
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          If you have ever seen some of my code, you'd know that it can also be neither. :-O Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

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          • M Marc Clifton

            Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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            Chris Losinger
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            i'd say it's more of a 'craft'. it's not as disciplined as a science, but it's more practical than an art. -c


            There's one easy way to prove the effectiveness of 'letting the market decide' when it comes to environmental protection. It's spelt 'S-U-V'. --Holgate, from Plastic

            Smaller Animals Software

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            • C Chris Losinger

              i'd say it's more of a 'craft'. it's not as disciplined as a science, but it's more practical than an art. -c


              There's one easy way to prove the effectiveness of 'letting the market decide' when it comes to environmental protection. It's spelt 'S-U-V'. --Holgate, from Plastic

              Smaller Animals Software

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              Navin
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              I guess it depends on what type of programming you do, too. If you are involved in designing the code, then it is more of an art. If you just implement an existing deesign, or code up a specific algorithm, then it's more of a science. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

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              • T Tim Smith

                Science. Thinking of it as an art does no good and only causes you to come up with useless and silly opinions about programming. :) Tim Smith I'm going to patent thought. I have yet to see any prior art.

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                peterchen
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                Isn't at least part of programming "don't stop tinking about it just because it sounds silly"?


                If I could find a souvenir / just to prove the world was here   [sighist]

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                • M Marc Clifton

                  Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                  Chris Austin
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  I'd say it is a young science in a emperical stage. Marc Clifton wrote: I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. In a past life I was an engineer in the SemiConductor industry. And, why most of everything we did was driven by pure science one would derive a sense of artistic satisifaction by a subtle well engineered solution. I think too many people belive that because you are following a scientific foundation / ideas you can't be creative inside that structure. Fill me with your knowledge, your wisdom, your coffee.

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                  • M Marc Clifton

                    Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                    Jon Rista
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    I'm a strong beleiver of the...idea...of programming beeing some of both. Programming is a science because there are, though few, certain laws that one must abide by. Depending on the language and platform, these laws can hamper or release your creativity. Programming is also an art for the sole reason that to program you have to be creative. You have to imagine and extrapolate and obfuscate :wtf: and whatever else to twist your program into the creature you want it to be. This often requires more creativity than logic. So while programming is a science, its more of a creative art. :-D

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                    • C Chris Losinger

                      i'd say it's more of a 'craft'. it's not as disciplined as a science, but it's more practical than an art. -c


                      There's one easy way to prove the effectiveness of 'letting the market decide' when it comes to environmental protection. It's spelt 'S-U-V'. --Holgate, from Plastic

                      Smaller Animals Software

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                      Brad Jennings
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      I agree to a certain extent. Most programming is just like construction so we are like "blacksmiths" only our work doesn't require as much physical exertion. It does require an imaginitave person to program some things, so I believe that there is a certain degree of art involved. It is when a person is developing a new programminng language or writing new algorithms that the science aspect comes into play. Just my 2 cents. Later. Brad Jennings

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                      • M Marc Clifton

                        Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                        Samsung
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        It is business, man, business. Art is business, science is business. Everything is business. :)

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                        • N Navin

                          I guess it depends on what type of programming you do, too. If you are involved in designing the code, then it is more of an art. If you just implement an existing deesign, or code up a specific algorithm, then it's more of a science. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

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                          Chris Austin
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          Navin wrote: . If you are involved in designing the code, then it is more of an art. I'd say this is where it should be aproached as more of a Science ie. following good design guidelines (exanple avoiding tight coupling and low cohesion) and best know practices. God knows how many late nights at work I've had because our System Architect considered himself an artist. Fill me with your knowledge, your wisdom, your coffee.

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                          • M Marc Clifton

                            Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                            Jorgen Sigvardsson
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            An engineer without a sense of art is a mechanical robot. :) -- This space for rent.

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                            • M Marc Clifton

                              Or a mixture of both? and how much in each category? What are your thoughts, and where do you think programming is an art, and where do you think it is a science? An by art, I'm not referring to GUI or web design or any other graphical element. I mean "art" in the inspirational sense of creativity--the "ah ha" experience when writing a nifty function, for example. Personally, I would say that programming is more of an art, but it has the potential to become more of a science. Sort of like being a doctor in the 19th century vs. in the 21st century. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                              brianwelsch
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              definitely more an art. However, the closer you get to the hardware the more scientific it becomes. BW "I'm coming with you! I got you fired, it's the least I can do. Well, the least I could do is absolutely nothing, but I'll go you one better and come along!" - Homer J. Simpson

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                              • T Tim Smith

                                Science. Thinking of it as an art does no good and only causes you to come up with useless and silly opinions about programming. :) Tim Smith I'm going to patent thought. I have yet to see any prior art.

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                                M Offline
                                Marc Clifton
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                Thinking of it as an art does no good and only causes you to come up with useless and silly opinions about programming. I think so too, but if it's a science, shouldn't I be able to demonstratably prove that one implementation is better (or at least equal) to another, without actually doing the implementation???. Or am I mixing metaphors, in the sense that there is really no theoretical aspect to programming--it's all applied? Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                                • P peterchen

                                  Isn't at least part of programming "don't stop tinking about it just because it sounds silly"?


                                  If I could find a souvenir / just to prove the world was here   [sighist]

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                                  Marc Clifton
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Well, for those of us that actually think, yes. :laugh: But, in the vein of Richard Feynman's lifestyle, yes, one should always think about even silly things in programming (and just about anything else). This is what makes "science", I guess. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                                  • P peterchen

                                    Both, and you can compensate lack of one with the other.


                                    If I could find a souvenir / just to prove the world was here   [sighist]

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                                    Marc Clifton
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    and you can compensate lack of one with the other. Aahh. To a point. OK, how about this--people who are more imaginative tend to be "artistic" in their programming--innovative, more risk taking, while people with less imagination tend to be "scientific"--tried and true technologies and solutions. It seems that both can lead to disaster if taken to the extreme, and neither alone can solve certain complex problems. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                                    • N Navin

                                      If you have ever seen some of my code, you'd know that it can also be neither. :-O Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

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                                      M Offline
                                      Marc Clifton
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      You must be a graduate of The Jackson Pollock School Of Programming. I attended there too! :laugh: Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                                      • C Chris Losinger

                                        i'd say it's more of a 'craft'. it's not as disciplined as a science, but it's more practical than an art. -c


                                        There's one easy way to prove the effectiveness of 'letting the market decide' when it comes to environmental protection. It's spelt 'S-U-V'. --Holgate, from Plastic

                                        Smaller Animals Software

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                                        M Offline
                                        Marc Clifton
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        it's more of a 'craft' Mmmm. The answer that brings balance to the two extremes. Well said! Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.

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                                        • J Jorgen Sigvardsson

                                          An engineer without a sense of art is a mechanical robot. :) -- This space for rent.

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                                          Navin
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          The technical term for that is "code monkey". :-D Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

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