Wednesday 9 January 2013

Programming with LOVE

I guess I've been programming for about 5 years now (seriously for 3), and this is something I just realized, writing code for the NAO robot. The fact that it's cute as hell probably helped here.

Programming is a form of communication with a life-form that doesn't know what you know (yet). And just like humans, animals and plants, it's easier to get what you want if you are sincere and love that life-form. Now, one may be a great programmer but sucks at the process of programming itself, or vice versa. If one sucks at the programming process, then that's just like a lover who sucks at kissing or flirting (aka HOW to love). On the other hand, the one who is great at all the tools and processes of programming may feel lost at writing complex code despite all the knowledge. This one is the lover who is a great kisser and seducer, yet can never maintain a relationship for long.

The same goes for code. Some people are great at coding, but can never maintain it - for them, it remains as just a tool. Others are always learning, but it's the love of the whole program that drives them.

Programming can teach you to love without expectations. Expectations cloud one's thinking and judgement, preventing you from seeing what the code really does. If you can love your code, it's more likely to work well.

--to be continued--

Thursday 3 January 2013

Question

Today, a friend of mine posed a very interesting question - what do I know that you didn't? 

Answer:
The answer told me a lot about this guy that I/he probably didn't realize.

 First of all, his tone told me he was being haughty and dismissive. We went through a whole bunch of things and always preferred to say "I've heard of it, but I don't believe it/like it." instead of honestly listening and moving the conversation forward.

He showed a remarkable disdain for "people who only knew how to study." And you know what? I used to too! Today's culture perpetuates the mass belief/filter that there are winners and losers, and so people compare themselves to each other. This means that the underpinnings of the rebellious is still love of the system, except by hating that which they do not have. An example of this is the thief who steals money who is expressing their love of the monetary system, just as the hardworking worker who earns it. The only difference is that one is lead to believe he is a victim and the other is a victor. This sort of thing ruins people for life, societies for ages and stays there until it is changed, manifesting itself as both positive and negative human emotions as "jealousy", "feeling inadequate"(especially in males), "useless", "pleasure" and "fear".

I guess I prefer people who are secure and don't try to threaten others with insecurities, but I understand a bit about how people can turn out like that.

On the good side, I found that verbalizing what my knowledge bases made myself clearer to me and I'm sure this guy thought so too. In a way, we all mirror each other and so we can see ourselves in others.