Name: Anonymous 2007-07-05 4:46 ID:ccxo5LDx
You fumble around in your chair as the compiler spits out another unintelligible error. "No this isn't right" you think to yourself. Switching back to the text editor you spot a misplaced brace and quickly rectify it.
Ben is watching from the other side of the room.
Ben: Remember, a computer is precise and intolerant of error.
You: You mean it controls your actions?
Ben: Partially. But it also obeys your commands.
Han has taken an interest and watches smugly from the doorway.
This time the code compiles. Crossing your fingers you run the executable. Immediately a dialog pops up warning about a memory fault and the program crashes. You sigh in embarrassment and start scanning for mistakes.
Han (laughing): Hokey languages and ancient terminals are no match for a GUI IDE at your side, kid.
You: You don't believe in the source, do you?
Han: Kid, I've seen a lot of strange stuff but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful source controlling every program. There's no mystical code controlling my destiny.
Ben smiles quietly.
Han: It's all semantic nonsense.
Ben: I suggest you try it again. This time, let go your unfocused self and act with concentration.
Ben closes the text editor and opens notepad.
You: But without syntax highlighting and auto-completion how am I supposed to write?
Ben: Advanced features can deceive you, don't trust them.
Han Shakes his head skeptically.
With little enthusiasm you finish modifying the statement for the array loop. The compiler flags 3 warnings before bailing out.
Ben: Stretch out with your feelings.
You slowly take a breath and return to notepad. You sit very still, intently reading the code. After taking a good look you change two statements and compile. No errors. You run the program. It quietly sends a few lines of output to the screen before gracefully exiting.
Ben: You see, you can do it.
Han: I call it luck.
Ben: In my experience there is no such thing as luck.
Han: Look, compiling "Hello World"s is one thing. Compiling a real application? That's something else.
You: You know, I did feel something. I could almost see the program.
Ben: That's good, you have taken your first step into a larger world.
Ben is watching from the other side of the room.
Ben: Remember, a computer is precise and intolerant of error.
You: You mean it controls your actions?
Ben: Partially. But it also obeys your commands.
Han has taken an interest and watches smugly from the doorway.
This time the code compiles. Crossing your fingers you run the executable. Immediately a dialog pops up warning about a memory fault and the program crashes. You sigh in embarrassment and start scanning for mistakes.
Han (laughing): Hokey languages and ancient terminals are no match for a GUI IDE at your side, kid.
You: You don't believe in the source, do you?
Han: Kid, I've seen a lot of strange stuff but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful source controlling every program. There's no mystical code controlling my destiny.
Ben smiles quietly.
Han: It's all semantic nonsense.
Ben: I suggest you try it again. This time, let go your unfocused self and act with concentration.
Ben closes the text editor and opens notepad.
You: But without syntax highlighting and auto-completion how am I supposed to write?
Ben: Advanced features can deceive you, don't trust them.
Han Shakes his head skeptically.
With little enthusiasm you finish modifying the statement for the array loop. The compiler flags 3 warnings before bailing out.
Ben: Stretch out with your feelings.
You slowly take a breath and return to notepad. You sit very still, intently reading the code. After taking a good look you change two statements and compile. No errors. You run the program. It quietly sends a few lines of output to the screen before gracefully exiting.
Ben: You see, you can do it.
Han: I call it luck.
Ben: In my experience there is no such thing as luck.
Han: Look, compiling "Hello World"s is one thing. Compiling a real application? That's something else.
You: You know, I did feel something. I could almost see the program.
Ben: That's good, you have taken your first step into a larger world.