Let's Get Started

Programming tends to be a very abstract, open-ended activity. A very specialized language is used to communicate with a machine that understands a very limited, but powerful, mathematical model (i.e. ones and zeros). These machines have their own language, one that does not translate well into verbal or human terms. This communication, then, is a layer of abstraction: Verbal/Written language (i.e. English) -> programming language (i.e. C/C++, Java, etc.) -> machine code (i.e. x86, SPARC, etc.) -> ones and zeros (i.e. um...1, 0).

Because the number of layers or abstractions, especially between the verbal/written language and a programming language, causes some form of cognitive dissonance (an interesting subject unto itself; Wikipedia has a good definition; but here, it basically means the difficulty in translating English, for example, to Java, C, or any other programming language). Hence, the need for perceiving our particular paradigm, coming to grips with it, and adjusting it are not only necessary, but are paramount to doing more than just twiddling our fingers on a keyboard, popping out cute little programs that do little beyond excite our creative needs.

I think it becomes interesting, though, to step back and relate those perspectives and paradigms we have on other areas of our lives and analyze them, looking for appropriate metaphors, analogies, and whatnot. I think this lessens the cognitive dissonance because we familiarize the layers of abstraction with realities that we're used to. The common metaphor of programming technologies and techniques with tools is a great example of this (and one that I will explore at greater length in the future).

So, here I've started a blog with the desire to lessen the natural dissonance in computer programming and to explore other experiences and to relate them to writing code. My hope is to gain insights into the process of development, the process of building, and creative work. I fundamentally feel that computer programming is one of the most fascinating fields for this simple reason: it is able to combine creativity with science with engineering with craftsmanship.