Every child has a dream. I remember when he was little my childhood friend Sarah's little brother wanted to be a fire dog. Sometimes it is nice to reflect on these things as adults. However, our modern programmer has taken to fashion himself after one of his favorite childhood heroes: the Ninja. He wants to be quick, skilled, and silent. He wants to get things done without making a stir, be completely agile, and he wants to be incredibly awesome doing it. To illustrate the "Coding Ninja" craze here are a few links:
http://www.azillionmonkeys.com/qed/ninja.html
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001163.html
http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/eng/1247057156.html
http://www.43things.com/person/coreb
What's the big deal? Who wouldn't want to be a ninja? Well, for one, I don't. I mean, their clothes look like a really tight burka (no offense to those who enjoy wearing a burka, it's just kinda warm out right now). I want my code to be beautiful, graceful, and sleek. On top of all this playing Ninja is totally a boy game. I mean, COME ON. So, I'm taking this one back for the ladies. You guys can have your ninja thing, because we'd rather be ballerinas.
Dynamic, perfectly composed, and beautiful. Just like our code.
That's all I have to say about that. On with some announcements. I have been invited to speak at the Boston Thoughtbot sponsored event Developer Day. I'm really looking forward to it and I hope if you're in the area you will come. It looks like a great event and it's relatively inexpensive.
MVC for Web Forms post is coming within the next few days.
ROCK!!
I am very sorry to disappoint you, but I was in ballet classes when I was 9 (for about 2 years or so... and the answer is no, can't do the plie these days).
ReplyDeleteI wish my code was like a ballet most of the times.
While I like the thought of the ninja, I kinda have to lean more for the ballerina, only because ballet is an art form. Ever since I became interested in programming and then choose it for a career, I have said it's like art. Personally I'd rather be the Leonardo da Vinci of programming. Just like the ballerina, my da vinci code... (hardy har har), should be amazing works of art, well engineered, and perform elegantly. Again only my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid I thought it would be cool to be a trash-man, because you get to ride around on the back of the truck all day and pull the lever to crush things. It was a time when I didn't consider things like salary, benefits, hazardous work environments, and SMELL.
ReplyDeleteActually this sounds a lot like what maintaining some legacy code is like, being a trash-man.
Honestly, I'm a little tired of programmers trying to glamorize their jobs. We sit at desks and write instructions for machines in crazy, arcane languages. I don't care what you call it, it's not glamorous. Fun? Interesting? Yes... ninja or rock star like? Hardly.
ReplyDeleteWow - amazing lineup in Boston. We need that whole crew here in NYC, too.
ReplyDeleteChris: Actually, trash men and women have fantastic salary and benefits, which I assume they need to make up for the other bits. Metaphor?
Dee: well, how about composer? Conductor? Code is a part of art, and there are artists (and rock stars - hello, Radiohead) who use code. So... there?
I think any activity of the human body and mind is glamorous, so perfectly reasonable to use such names.
Interesting..
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the sentiment that code is more like art and should be more graceful.. But I think:
1. Code should be like a ballet (beautiful and graceful).
2. CodERS should be like ninjas (disciplined and dedicated).
3. I should be like Trogdor (because he is freaking awesome!).
Dee, stop being such a nerd - you are ruining our fun :P
Both Ballerinas Ninjas make great metaphors for the ideal. Both Ballerinas Ninjas are extreme professionals that take their discipline very seriously. Both are pragmatic and very dedicated to practicing the art and techniques to utmost of their abilities. Both have a history, with shared learning. Both strive for the greater good.
ReplyDeleteIs there such a thing as a Ninjerina?
--Brian
That is a truly fantastic piece of work.
ReplyDelete