Scott Hanselman

Rory asks, Why do I code?

September 11, 2003 Comment on this post [2] Posted in Web Services
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Why do I code?  Because I can't cook, or change my own oil, or mow lawns.  Because I lettered in drama in High School but I never got discovered walking an L.A. mall.  Because I never made any money doing standup.  Because, God help me, if I wasn't coding the only think I'd be good at would be selling cars.  (I'm REALLY good at selling cars.  Seriously.)

For real, I code because I like solving problems that are decidedly solvable.  I mean, I hear the problem, I think for a moment, I figure it's "possible" and then I try to figure how to solve it in a way that feels good.  Because I dig physics.  Because the end of the Carl Sagan's "Contact" was UNSPEAKABLY cool.  I code because of that feeling I've gotten 5 or 6 times when I just NAILED a problem and (while alone) raised my arms high in victory the same way that rapid sports fans do.  Except I look at them with a worried disdain when they do it, but secretly I wish I felt like that more often.

I code because coding, at its best, is art and literature and math and physics all at the same time.

About Scott

Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.

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September 12, 2003 6:36
Hey I can understand that feeling! The adrenalin rush of writing code and solving problems... But no one else would, no one else understands why I code.. during work, at home, or anywhere I can prop up my notebook.

September 24, 2003 16:49
Coding is Cognitive Poetry

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.