One day I came across a thought,
I tried to describe what computer programming was really about.
It is stated in such way in answers.com
Creating a computer program. The steps are:
1. Developing the program logic to solve the
particular problem.
2. Writing the program logic in a specific
programming language (coding the program).
3. Assembling or compiling the program to turn
it into machine language.
4. Testing and debugging the program.
5. Preparing the necessary documentation.
It makes very sense to me that this is really the case.
But...
In my opinion, the word "logic", phrases such as "solving problems" (mostly logical and mathematical problems), "compiling", "assembling", and preparing documentation, sounds so abstract and some what - cold.
Perhaps...
The interesting thing that I've experienced is that, the process of creating a computer program, and all those time spent for my program, didn't seem so much like the word explained in the dictionaries.
Rather it seemed to me like a piece of an art which I've designed.
In some sense, I think it doesn't really matter in whether a programmer reinvents the wheel or go with something that already exists. I realized that it is the self challenge and strong will to use their skills to create something that is aesthetic rather than so abstract. Before reading the article about "computer programming as an art" by Knuth, I was searching for some sort of meaning in computer programming, because it seemed to me that it was more than just sitting infront of a computer 5-10 hours a day, it seemed to me as though computer programming was somewhat a way of self expression in logical and mathematical way, which tends to have a process that is totally opposite from the non-computer programmers' view.
I'm not sure if anyone might agree, but the following article is somewhat inspiring.
http://www.paulgraham.com/knuth.html