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  3. Is Programming a creative Job?

Is Programming a creative Job?

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  • L Lost User

    My missus doesn't understand what I do. The best way I've found to explain it to her is that a programming language is like a written language. Once you know the majority of words in a language you can write a book. Some books are good and some are poor.

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    jim lahey
    wrote on last edited by
    #21

    An ex of mine used to think I sat at a desk hammering 1s and 0s into a text editor. when I showed her some C# her reaction was "oh, it's got real words in it and stuff" it didn't last, not that I'm at all surprised or bothered.

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    • R Rajesh Kariyavula

      Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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      Hemant Singh Rautela
      wrote on last edited by
      #22

      Hi, Everything make creative...Just need to lookup with a different senario... If you like programming then you can creative work for you. Ya In your office it may be repetitive job so that you are feeling like that. BUT Just analysis again & you can find lot of way to do this.... :) :)

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      • P Pete OHanlon

        Mohammed Hameed wrote:

        Programming is an art.

        True. Programming is an art; some people form wonderful evocative images with the most delicate of water colours. Other's struggle with finger painting.

        I was brought up to respect my elders. I don't respect many people nowadays.
        CodeStash - Online Snippet Management | My blog | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier

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        GuyThiebaut
        wrote on last edited by
        #23

        Some of us excel at the potato printing method of coding.

        “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

        ― Christopher Hitchens

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        • M Mark_Wallace

          Bear in mind that if someone says to you "That's a very creative idea", it means that he thinks you're an idiot.

          I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

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          Nish Nishant
          wrote on last edited by
          #24

          :laugh:

          Regards, Nish


          Blog: voidnish.wordpress.com The life of a Malayalee American - by Nish

          An article I recently wrote for an event souvenir

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          • R Rajesh Kariyavula

            Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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            R Giskard Reventlov
            wrote on last edited by
            #25

            Rajesh Kariyavula wrote:

            Is Programming a creative Job?

            Yes; at least it is for me as I'm the one that gets to decide what to do and how to do it. It's the part of the job I love the most, even after all these years. :-)

            "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. Those who seek perfection will only find imperfection nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me me, in pictures

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            • R Rajesh Kariyavula

              Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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              Dr Walt Fair PE
              wrote on last edited by
              #26

              In my experience, when someone says they are very creative, it really means they have no understanding of math and science and don't want to be bound by the laws of physics.

              CQ de W5ALT

              Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software

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              • M Mohammed Hameed

                Programming is an art. Ideas have to be creative.

                Previous -> Read "CLR via C#" by Jeffrey Ritcher. Current -> Exploring WCF thru Apress' "Pro WCF" by Chris Peiris and Dennis Mulder. Next -> Need to read "The Art of Computer Programming" by Donald E. Knuth.

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                AspDotNetDev
                wrote on last edited by
                #27

                I am reminded of a scene from "This is the End" (saw it yesterday at the theater). One of the characters says that he isn't into art, and another character goes off on a rant about different types of art (sandwiches, people at birth, and so on). Hilarious movie.

                Thou mewling ill-breeding pignut!

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                • R Rajesh Kariyavula

                  Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #28

                  My take would be that it is as creative as, say, an architect. It's not about free-form artistry, or daubing paint at random to make something pretty. It's about the putting together of various materials to produce something that meets the requirements of the user. While one architect may just design a plain brick house, perfectly liveable but boring and not likely to win prizes, the more innovative architect may build a home out of unusual materials, with features such as low energy use, efficient water usage, glass walls with views, waterfalls and pools, whatever. The question is, does the customer get what they want at the end of the day?

                  MVVM # - I did it My Way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')

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                  • R Rajesh Kariyavula

                    Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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                    Member 9167057
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #29

                    Yup, it is. Finding a solution to a non-standard problem is very creative.

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                    • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                      Depends on what your role is: if you are a codemonkey churning out code to exact specification with no design input, then no, it isn't - and creativity will be rightly stamped on. If you are higher up the food chain, then it becomes increasingly creative, and increasingly technical, until the technical element starts to wither away and you become a manager. At that point you will never do anything creative (or possibly useful) ever again.

                      The universe is composed of electrons, neutrons, protons and......morons. (ThePhantomUpvoter)

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                      grralph1
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #30

                      :thumbsup: Took the words right out of my mouth. Your post could easily be mistaken as something written by Philip Adams. Love the way you have expressed it.

                      "Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." Frank Zappa 1980

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                      • G grralph1

                        :thumbsup: Took the words right out of my mouth. Your post could easily be mistaken as something written by Philip Adams. Love the way you have expressed it.

                        "Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." Frank Zappa 1980

                        OriginalGriffO Offline
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                        OriginalGriff
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #31

                        If you mean this Phillip Adams[^] then I've never heard of him - but I note he has a bibliography, I'll see if I can find one of his books. Thanks!

                        The universe is composed of electrons, neutrons, protons and......morons. (ThePhantomUpvoter)

                        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                        "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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                        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                          If you mean this Phillip Adams[^] then I've never heard of him - but I note he has a bibliography, I'll see if I can find one of his books. Thanks!

                          The universe is composed of electrons, neutrons, protons and......morons. (ThePhantomUpvoter)

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                          grralph1
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #32

                          No I elephanted Up. Sorry OG. What I meant to say was Douglas Adams, not Philip. Hope that this makes more sense now.

                          "Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." Frank Zappa 1980

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                          • G grralph1

                            No I elephanted Up. Sorry OG. What I meant to say was Douglas Adams, not Philip. Hope that this makes more sense now.

                            "Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." Frank Zappa 1980

                            OriginalGriffO Offline
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                            OriginalGriff
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #33

                            :laugh: I would be honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as the late, great DNA!

                            The universe is composed of electrons, neutrons, protons and......morons. (ThePhantomUpvoter)

                            "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                            "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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                            • R Rajesh Kariyavula

                              Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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                              Gary Huck
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #34

                              Yes.

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                              • R Rajesh Kariyavula

                                Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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                                BC3Tech
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #35

                                from my standpoint the answer is a resounding YES. I know of more than just a few devs who have left positions due to lack of 'creative freedom'. That is: the ability to research, discover, and find new ways to solve problems they were facing in their current projects/solutions. Similarly, being able to learn new things and apply those findings to what you're working on is, in some what, being creative with new tools and discoveries. I think if you're in an area like computer science/software engineering, which changes SO rapidly, and aren't allowed to explore, learn, grow your skills as part of your job, your employer isn't focused on investing in you or helping you in your career. How much of that you're content with making up outside of work is up to you. If you can't do it at work, find a way to do it at home to satisfy that creative itch. Then do blog/site posts on what you discover so you get some publicity for your passions. CodeProject's a good place to do that :)

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                                • G grralph1

                                  No I elephanted Up. Sorry OG. What I meant to say was Douglas Adams, not Philip. Hope that this makes more sense now.

                                  "Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk for people who can't read." Frank Zappa 1980

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                                  Renzo Ciafardone
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #36

                                  Funny enough it sounds like it could have come from a Scott Adams´s Dilbert strip too. Are all this Adams folks related? ;P

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                                  • R Rajesh Kariyavula

                                    Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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                                    StatementTerminator
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #37

                                    Programming is construction work, that's what it really is. We're the carpenters and welders of the software industry. Does that involve creativity? Sure, sometimes a lot, so does plumbing (trust me, I've seen some creative plumbing).

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                                    • R Rajesh Kariyavula

                                      Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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                                      ClockMeister
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #38

                                      Rajesh Kariyavula wrote:

                                      Is Programming a creative Job?
                                       
                                      I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

                                      I've been at this for 37+ years and this is the only comparison (artist) that my wife has consistently made of the type of work I do.

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                                      • R Rajesh Kariyavula

                                        Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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                                        RafagaX
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #39

                                        Sure it is, the best programmers/developers are highly creative people.

                                        CEO at: - Rafaga Systems - Para Facturas - Modern Components for the moment...

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                                        • R Rajesh Kariyavula

                                          Is Programming a creative Job? I have been thinking creatively, but my work doesn't need it.

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                                          patbob
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #40

                                          "Programming" has many parts. Designing is pure creative work. Writing code, not so much, more bean counter.. dot all the t's cross all the i's, sort of work. Debugging is detective work -- figure out what's going on from the clues, follow up on them by probing deeper inside the system (with a debugger) to reveal more clues, prioritize them, sometimes decide which ones are important and which to ignore. Debugging can also sometimes be scientific -- hypothesize on what the bug might be, design and run an experiment (code modification) to reveal if that is the bug, analyze results, although you could also consider it detective work -- stress the system to see if more clues to what's broken inside are revealed. I wish the lawyers would realize that SW engineers share a lot of the same thought processes as detectives, they'd never let us on juries :)

                                          We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.

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