Survey Results - Why do you program?

...problems, but balancing between idiotic API, clumsy code from team, unreal requirements and buggy tools.
What is a "solving problems" in making "forms for database"? It's already solved 100 times! But you again and again code these dubious forms. Why? That's why! Smile | :)

Because programming on 95% is a fighting with windmill (if you know what I mean).

It really depend on what you're programming with, really. While the

Thornik wrote:
balancing between idiotic API, clumsy code from team, unreal requirements and buggy tools.

is always true, in many fields you have new problems to solve each day. In my field for example we alternate between automated control of industrial machines in thousands of different production lines (which are all different between each other), algorithms to automagically find inclusions of foreign materials in food packages (i.e. shards of glass from a broken jar inside a undamaged jam jar), issues with costly, specialized and aging hardware or new, untested, costly specialized hardware.

Basically it all depends on the field of programming.

GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X

If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver

"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey

"just eat it, eat it"."They're out to mold, better eat while you can" -- HobbyProggy

For me, programming is actually what I like doing, and the learning aspect of it comes into play as a result of it.

That said, it actually really doesn't stop there. I get a great deal of satisfaction from doing something really positive that does help people to make things more helpful to them in their work on their computers. This basically stems from my hate of having to go through unnecessary work to reach a final objective.

is an arrogant bastard with limited social skills and no natural athletic ability going to do?

I kid (mostly), I enjoy puzzles and problem solving.

When I wanted to make something electronic, it used to be piles of datasheets, calculations and piles of discrete parts.

These days, even simple projects are easier using an MPU with the appropriate slave chips.

Perhaps, not as satisfying as seeing an array of power transistors or vacuum tubes glowing quettly, but certainly a lot easier.

I wrote my first program in 1963, so it's in my blood. Although I qualified as a Civil Engineer and used computers in my work, I switched to being a Programmer and finally I went contracting. Now I do it to keep Her Indoors off my back.

Not dissimilar. While I haven't quite retired yet, I'm well past the point where it's for the money; I (mostly) enjoy the challenge and (mostly) enjoy the people with whom I get to work.

I mean, I'm not turning down the paychecks, but that's not a motivation any more.

One of these days, I imagine that the challenge will be less than the stress, and I'll quit coming in.

Though this should've been checkboxes; I also like the aspect of creating something that users are really happy about and getting good feedback.

Because it's easier to work with a machine than it is with people. Big Grin | :-D

I think 'pure fun' and 'creating my own applications doing what meets my needs' would be 2 useful options.
The second is particularly true in these times when software houses propose lots of programs with tons of functions that are almost never used by the average user.

And I am not that good at Programming either.... Cry | :((

I do not fear of failure. I fear of giving up out of frustration.

me too. atleast can google

But, are you the best or at least, are you one of the best?

I do not fear of failure. I fear of giving up out of frustration.

I am adding this to your personnel file for your annual review Smile | :)

I have a file, OMG | :OMG:

I am so happy

I do not fear of failure. I fear of giving up out of frustration.

Because!

In high school, I was introduced to the concept of computers (limited 'programming' with cards), then actual programming (3 Commodore PETS - 16K) at the school.
I was torn between my first love, biology and my second, programming.
The deciding factor was: to earn I biology degree, I had to dissect a cadaver. I grew up on a working farm; I was used to farm life - I could dissect any animal - but not a cadaver.

So... I went with programming - over 30 years after college, I still enjoy it.

I used to love, and I mean REALLY love, programming. I started developing recreationally when I was 12. Now some 24 years later, I'm a bit tired of it. It's a means to an end for me now. I like learning about new concepts, but developing professionally took all of the fun out of the hobby.

I didn't want to be a developer. I wanted to be ... a lumberjack!

"I didn't want to be a developer. I wanted to be ... a lumberjack!"

Is this SPAM!

For some reason, I fell in love with computers ever since I first laid my eyes on them.

I was 7 and my neighbour got a Sinclair ZX Spectrum+[^] for his birthday. He was 13 and I wasn't allowed to touch it.

I roughly remember staring at it just amazed by the thing and my neighbour couldn't care less about it.

I needed to wait some months until I could get my own Timex 2048[^]. It was freaking amazing!!... One problem thogh... Someone told my father that these computer things would screw the TV and he wouldn't let me connect it OMG | :OMG:

Some months went by and I managed to save some money to by my first monitor, a green phosphorus monitor Cool | :cool:

Was with this setup that, by the time I turned 9, I was starting to write my first lines of code based on the Basic commands written on the computer keys and the double sided last page of the manual.

I'll turn 39 in 3 months so I really think I was made for this Laugh | :laugh:

AlexCode wrote:
ever since I first laid my eyes on them.

AlexCode wrote:
I wasn't allowed to touch it.

AlexCode wrote:
staring at it just amazed by the thing

AlexCode wrote:
screw the TV

Would love to see the change too

cheers,

Super

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Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it

I never was a born programmer (some might beg to pardon, reading my upcoming sentences), my parents always hid my computers, sometimes sold them because I did not study. I was good at nothing, but football. Yes, I played football from dawn to dusk.

However, things got a bit changes when "it" happened. One night, I came home feeling very pissed by my friends who said, "I couldn't code!". I mean, of course I couldn't, I was an engineering student with Chemistry as my major. I had no computer science in my life, not even around. Then these kids came across talking about, "HTML!" Some said, "Do you know HTML?", some claimed to be the rulers of "HTML" and here was me. A martian, a total noob to the concept of programming. Not any longer than 2011! Until then, I had no idea how to even use a computer. But I had a big problem of self-respect. I take it very seriously!

I came back home, Googled "HTML" and learnt it the "worst" way, through W3schools. That is what I program.

I am no longer a web developer, although most of my personal blog are for web development, example is: Learn the basics of the Web and App Development[^]

Now the thing, why I program is pretty much unclear, even to me. I program for many things.

To be able to survive the rage I have in my mind.
To be able to learn something new.
To be able to make sure everyone around me doesn't make fun of me, when it comes to "knowledge".
- Computer programming can open gateways to external knowledge. Why do you think there are "Computer problems" at the end of lessons in Physics book?
To keep myself occupied and away from thoughts like, "I'm good for nothing!"

That's all of the reasons why I program, "AND" I personally hate it when someone says, "You can only be prolific in programming if you have an interest in programming or if you were taught programming since you were a kid". Both of the claims are not right, and still I am the only MVP of CodeProject in my area, I am the only one in front of whom no other programmer can sit and prove him wrong, and I am the only one to whom even giants from 60KM come to be rescued.

I can't take that as something that happened "by chance". I worked hard. Smile | :)

The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~

Afzaal Ahmad Zeeshan wrote:
I was an engineering student with Chemistry as my major. I had no computer science in my life, not even around.

That's really messed up (as in your school) - I was doing my Chemistry degrees from 9/1971 through 8/1980 (and will ever be a Chemist in my soul) - when computers were less accessible then now by more orders of magnitude than is imaginable. I got to start playing with FORTRAN by late 1972: this, by the way, in a public (State) university budget problems.

Looking at your picture (& guessing your rough age) - I'd say you were short-changed.

"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert

"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010

And stuck with it.
I do enjoy it, the salary is good, it's a cushy 9 to 5 job, I do sometimes enjoy the learning, it's fun solving problems, I like it when my customers call me "brilliant" or "angel" (and yes, both have happened Big Grin | :-D

)... Etc. etc.
Too bad I didn't know that before I got my master degree in Media and Journalism Sigh | :sigh:

Visit my blog at Sander's bits - Writing the code you need.
Or read my articles at my CodeProject profile.

Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability.
— Edsger W. Dijkstra

Regards,
Sander

Option	Votes	%
It's a craft and I'm an artist. It's my calling.	236	17.03
To help get other (non-programming) work done	50	3.61
I like building something from nothing. I get to be a God in my own world.	222	16.02
I like solving (sometime frustrating) problems	406	29.29
I enjoy learning new skills	109	7.86
I like to control hardware and technology	81	5.84
For the income	139	10.03
I need to for my job (but I don't necessarily enjoy programming)	22	1.59
I enjoy making systems more efficient	44	3.17
I love the feedback from happy users	19	1.37
I don't know	27	1.95
Other	31	2.24
Total	1,386	100%