Realistic Portrayals of Software Programmers?

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Realistic Portrayals of Software Programmers?

Posted by Cliff on Tuesday February 18, 2003 @07:23AM from the you're-expecting-THAT-out-Hollywood? dept.

lwbecker2 asks: "Warren Harrison has written a thought-provoking editorial piece on The Software Developer as Movie Icon. He explores the fact that new entrants to Computer Science curriculum are typically clueless about what 'real' developers actually do. While researching the issue of why this is the case, he determined that some potential CS degree seekers are forming opinions from portrayals in movies and cinema. He describes what he asserts to be inaccurate portrayals of developers in War Games, TRON, and The Net, and asks for input and opinions on 'the impact of the cinema and television on new software developers' expectations, as well as learn of any films that do a better job of portraying our profession...' I am sure Slashdot readers have some input on this, and I am curious if people believe _any_ movie has acurately portrayed software developers?"

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Problem is story-telling, not stereotype by CommieLib · 2003-02-18 07:29 · Score: 3, Interesting

The basic problem is that simple stories require simple characters, and generally, we're not talking Jane Austen where computers are involved.

Display a computer programmer that works out, or has a family, etc., that takes time out from the CG and explosions. It also confuses the stupid audience that flocks to the picture...

Having said that, I thought Hugh Jackman's programmer in Swordfish was presented as pretty cool, even the rest of the movie was totally goat.

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If your bitterest enemies are people who hack the heads off civilians, then I would say you're doing something right.
Re:Most Accurate Portrayal of a Computer Award... by tmhsiao · 2003-02-18 07:35 · Score: 4, Interesting

Of course you're being sarcastic, but that silly looking 3D system was actually an SGI product called fsn, pronounced "fusion," and it ran on IRIX 4.0.1+ machines...

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"My God...It's full of ads!" -Fry, about the Internet, Futurama
Re:Yes there is one... by Teach · 2003-02-18 07:47 · Score: 4, Interesting

This pretty much nails it, here. Signal 11 said something on Slashdot a couple of years ago regarding this that I saved:

"Let's face it: the life of a geek is boring. We spend all day in front of our computers checking our e-mail, coding, and sitting on our duff doing 'nothing'. At least to the untrained eye. On the molecular level, however, we are quite busy."

Couldn't have said it better myself. It's just hard to make this profession look interesting on the big screen.

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Graham "Teach" Mitchell, computer science teacher, Leander HS
That's why I love James Bond (Re:so what's new?) by Hanno · 2003-02-18 07:52 · Score: 2, Interesting

My father is an ex Army helicopter pilot and flight instructor. We just love James Bond movies.

Whenever there's a computer on screen, I tell him: "Well, actually that's impossible" and why. Whenever there's a helicopter on screen, he tells me: "well, actually, no helicopter is capable of that" and why. Or: "See that Russian soldier? Well, he's using a rifle of the Isreali army, wrong equipment again."

Yeah, I know that it's just a movie, but we get the kicks out of it... :-)

"Golden Eye" was an example, with its wonderful IBM product placement and unique chat software used by the geek and the bond girl. And virtually every modern Bond film includes an impossible or close-to-impossible helicopter stunt.

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You may like my a cappella music
What I do by mugnyte · 2003-02-18 08:00 · Score: 2, Interesting

Personally, I have never seen any movie work as I do. Been programming 15 years running, and of course I've changed my style but...

There is a time period in coding where one, sooner or later, has all the knowledge ready to spill out from their fingertips, and the screen(s) are setup for maximum coding output. It's in this time that I've been simply focused to the bone on some problem, wheel invented or not. This is a point of headphone blaring, slouching tapping and screen flipping that looks completely boring to an observer. In team jobs, it can be even more fun.

I don't think the movies would ever WANT to depict this strange ritual.
What happens after office space by NfoCipher · 2003-02-18 08:09 · Score: 2, Interesting

Ended up in a small, small place as the only coder with the boss from a galaxy far far away. They should really warn people about to enter the field about people and jobs like this.

I'd try to describe him to you, but it would take too long, I do keep a online journal of my adventures at NfoCipher.org

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I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.
Re:Most Accurate Portrayal of a Computer Award... by wossName · 2003-02-18 08:10 · Score: 2, Interesting

Yes, and now you can have it too !

Anything like that for Linux ?

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Someone is wrong on the Internet!
Re:office space jokes... by faqBastard · 2003-02-18 09:19 · Score: 3, Interesting

OK, next question....if the MCP and HAL went head to head, who would win?

That's a highly irregular question, Dave. :-)

MCP wins for more spectacular death, HAL wins for more memorable death. Though I guess the Daisy bit wasn't really his death, that came with the whole Jupiter ignition thing...
Re:Doctors, Lawyers, and Cops by dsoltesz · 2003-02-18 11:36 · Score: 2, Interesting

Charles Bronson. Death Wish [1-5]. Architect.
MacGyver. MacGyver. All around geek and secret agent.
James Bond. Dante's Peak. Geologist.
Mike Brady. Brady Bunch. Architect.
Quinn Mallory. Sliders. Applied Physicist.
Ellie Arroway. Contact. Radio Astronomer.
Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein. Biological Engineer.
Henry Mitchell. Dennis the Menace. Engineer.
Lionel Jefferson. The Jeffersons. Engineering Student.
Julian Wilkes. Viper. Engineer.
Chuck Noland. Castaway. Systems Engineer.
Chris McCormack. Eight Legged Freaks. Mining Engineer.
That's the best I can come up with :-)