Programming Forums
User Name Password Register
 

RSS Feed
FORUM INDEX | TODAY'S POSTS | UNANSWERED THREADS | ADVANCED SEARCH

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post in Thread   Next Post in Thread Next
Old Dec 7th, 2005, 4:06 AM   #1
pal
Programmer
 
pal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 91
Rep Power: 4 pal is on a distinguished road
what is computer programming?

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
pal is offline   Reply With Quote
 

Bookmarks

« Previous Thread in Forum | Next Thread in Forum »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump




DaniWeb IT Discussion Community
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 6:54 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2007 DaniWeb® LLC