Author of:
and maintainer of:
In the last issue of Dr. Dobbs, there was an article entitled 'Why Programming is Fun', the article is a spin of from a blog entry by the author at:
http://blogs.codegear.com/davidi/archive/2006/08/19/26828.aspx
I can agree with most of the things he mention, then again some of the aspects are of no interest to me - and the same point originally authored by Fred Brooks seem to be more down my alley.
But as something, which is probably not particularly Perl, I think I would like to write up my own list, based on my work as a Perl programmer, some of these are also on the lists mentioned:
Oh I forgot (Score:2)
talking to the electrons (Score:1)
Programming is therapy for me, reassuring me that I am not completely incompetent.
What I wouldn't like about being a programmer for a living is interacting with users. Going out to install an application on a user's machine, for example. What a terrible level of interaction with other people. What terrible interpersonal relationships.
I think I'll stick to teaching.
Re: (Score:2)
The interesting thing about working with users is that it can sometimes get you to interact with the electrons in ways you would never have thought of yourself.
Much like one of the other side effects of working like working with fellow programmers, you can make one plus one give three.
The therapeutic feeling you describe is familiar to me and there is nothing like being alone with the electrons, but believe me that expanding this sphere can be very therapeutic as