I can walk across the street to Neo's tonight and see if he still has it around.
Programming is creation. It's very much an art form for many pure hacker/programmers.
Why did Leonardo paint Mona Lisa? Because he knew he had the skill to create a beautiful thing. Because he could.
Why does Billy Joel play the piano? Because he is skilled and he can create beautiful things.
It's all about the sheer enjoyment of being able to create something (in the case of programs, something almost with a life of it's own) using skills you know you have.
If the program has a punch line, we know others could enjoy it to even if it's only purpose
is the punchline (like a tea timer).
Take a look at my
Krauskopizer. It does something novel, it converts text into the way a friend of mine (Bill Krauskopf) talked. Why? 'Cause I could. 'Cause some people--not the least of which, me-- found it hilarious. It's simply uncanny, the way it came out, IT'S BILL!
But mostly because the damn thing--after hours of work--is
almost intelligent! A living, breathing thing!
Creation! The programmer's high.
