A novice asked the master: "I have a program that sometimes runs and
sometimes aborts. I have followed the rules of programming, yet I am totally
baffled. What is the reason for this?"
The master replied: "You are confused because you do not understand
the Tao. Only a fool expects rational behavior from his fellow humans. Why
do you expect it from a machine that humans have constructed? Computers
simulate determinism; only the Tao is perfect.
The rules of programming are transitory; only the Tao is eternal.
Therefore you must contemplate the Tao before you receive enlightenment."
"But how will I know when I have received enlightenment?" asked the
novice.
"Your program will then run correctly," replied the master.
-- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming"
sometimes aborts. I have followed the rules of programming, yet I am totally
baffled. What is the reason for this?"
The master replied: "You are confused because you do not understand
the Tao. Only a fool expects rational behavior from his fellow humans. Why
do you expect it from a machine that humans have constructed? Computers
simulate determinism; only the Tao is perfect.
The rules of programming are transitory; only the Tao is eternal.
Therefore you must contemplate the Tao before you receive enlightenment."
"But how will I know when I have received enlightenment?" asked the
novice.
"Your program will then run correctly," replied the master.
-- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming"
Related:
- A novice asked the master: "I have a program that sometime runs and
sometimes aborts.
I have followed the rules of programming, yet I am totally baffled.... - A novice asked the master: "I perceive that one computer company is
much larger than all others.
It towers above its competition like a giant among dwarfs.... - There once was a master programmer who wrote unstructured programs.
A novice programmer, seeking to imitate him, also began to write unstructured programs.... - The Magician of the Ivory Tower brought his latest invention for the
master programmer to examine.
The magician wheeled a large black box into the master's office while the master waited in silence.... - Curse these personal computers!" cried the novice in anger, "To make them do
anything I must use three or even four editing programs.
This is truly intolerable!" The master programmer stared at the novice.... - A novice asked the master: "In the east there is a great tree-structure
that men call 'Corporate Headquarters'.
It is bloated out of shape with vice-presidents and accountants.... - A master programmer passed a novice programmer one day.
The master noted the novice's preoccupation with a hand-held computer game.... - A master was explaining the nature of the Tao to one of his novices,
"The Tao is embodied in all software -- regardless of how insignificant,"
said the master.
"Is the Tao in a hand-held calculator?" asked the novice.... - A master was explaining the nature of Tao to one of his novices.
"The Tao is embodied in all software -- regardless of how insignificant," said the master....
