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The Extinction of the Programming Species

Max Goff writes "Given the recent chatter surrounding the extinction of the U.S. programmer, /. readers might also be interested in a series of articles I recently penned for java.net -- the Blacksmith and the Bookkeeper (part 1, part 2 and part 3) -- in which I posit that the postmodern programmer (the entire sub-species, not just those domiciled in the U.S.) shares much with the blacksmith of old, and will become just as extinct in relatively short order. It is not due to work visas or outsourcing, but has much more to do with the evolution of work itself."

20 of 491 comments (clear)

  1. The real reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Programmers can't reproduce without sex, and sadly, we're not getting any.

    1. Re:The real reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I am, but then again.. I have a chinese mail-order wife.

    2. Re:The real reason by Kenja · · Score: 3, Funny
      "Programmers can't reproduce without sex, and sadly, we're not getting any."

      And yet most of us try to reproduce asexualy on a daily bassis. In fact, most of the internet is geared to helping us.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    3. Re:The real reason by Rand+Huck · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hey, now, get out of the 70's. Nerds are starting to get increasingly popular with the ladies. They're starting to realize that computing is just about the most sexual thing, what with the fact that we connect male-female sockets together and even have kinky master-slave role playing stuff.

    4. Re:The real reason by rpozz · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think the really worrying thing about this post is that it has been modded 'Interesting'.

    5. Re:The real reason by Gentlewhisper · · Score: 2, Funny

      http://www.bride.ru/

  2. Egad! by TheMediaWrangler · · Score: 5, Funny

    Somebody else RTFA! I don't want to know how I'm gonna die.

    --
    People should not fear what they do not understand; people should fear because they do not understand.
    1. Re:Egad! by Lehk228 · · Score: 4, Funny

      according to the article you will die from excess bullshit (at least that's what i got from the article)

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
  3. The real reason-Test Tube Baby. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    " Programmers can't reproduce without sex, and sadly, we're not getting any."

    Why do you think test tubes were invented?

  4. Oh, I see now. by RealProgrammer · · Score: 5, Funny
    From TFA, this clears it all up:
    But as we will see, the impact on the exogenous environment of remittable activities of autonomous agents can be profound indeed.

    At first I thought, "Of course! Everybody knows that." My wife and I were just chatting about that last night before bed. (Maybe the rest of you should use romantic talk like that, and you'd get some more often.)

    Then I realized that the author knew way more words than I do. He must be right.

    --
    sigs, as if you care.
  5. Re:Blacksmith? by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 2, Funny
    ...does that mean programmers are going to be replaced by machines that can code on their own?

    Yes, but humans will survive by learning to service the machines.
    "Do you want WD-40 with that sir?"

  6. Re:Why? Heres why! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Maybe they aren't getting any because they have lost all cognizance of any sort of grammatical form.
    FEWER programmers are around. But that's not true. WE shouldn't be so harsh on ourselves. Or you could have said "Don't be so hard on the programmers".
    What the hell is wrong with you people? I'm a people person! I talk to the goddamn customer so the engineer doesn't have to!

  7. Ok, Ok, it's all my fault... by jeillah · · Score: 2, Funny

    I should have known better but after all it was the early 70's and I was still into the free love thing and all and the Beatles made those guru dudes look so cool. Besides the Indian chicks were really nice looking. Who new knew my nerd seed would start such a problem. Sorry about all those job stealin' bastards. Really!

  8. Their totally right!! by __int64 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Look, that technology is already here!!
    Behold, a program which is capable of designing a new program!!

    #include <stdio.h>
    int main ( void )
    {
    FILE * output = fopen ( "c:\\newprogram.c", "w" );
    fprintf ( output, "#include <stdio.h>\nint main ( void )\n{\nprintf(\"hello world!\");\nreturn 0;\n}" );
    fclose ( output );
    return 0;
    }

    Were all doomed you fools!!

    1. Re:Their totally right!! by Eudial · · Score: 2, Funny

      I for one welcome our new coding overlords.

      --
      GAAH! MY PRINTER IS ON FIRE!!! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!
  9. Re:great news! by mitchus · · Score: 2, Funny

    The world owes you exactly 'Jack' and 'Shit'. The sooner you learn that, the happier you will be.

    That's some kind of a recipe for happiness, I'll tell ya!
    (not)

  10. Some Vogon poetry, please! by The+Pim · · Score: 4, Funny
    It would be a relief after this!

    Before more fully exploring the thesis of software developer as reified smithy, an examination of the role of the bookkeeper would be prudent, for the sake of juxtaposition, comparison, forecasting and nuance.

    I'm begging someone to take away this blow-hard's keyboard.

    --

    The evaluation of an action as 'practical' . . . depends on what it is that one wishes to practice.
  11. "Porno Sapiens"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Oh, that's "pomo sapiens"...

    For a minute there I thought I understood the decline in programmer productivity.

  12. Re:great news! by Citizen+of+Earth · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now this writer is talking about "codeless development environments" which are (like the 5GLs and expert systems of yesteryear) supposed to replace programmers.

    Yeah, computers are going to take over the programming business because they have become so fast recently that they can solve the Halting Problem in five seconds flat.

  13. Re:It's all a fad by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

    IT titles are a dark-grey art. I have given up trying to clean up the industry labels. In practice the boundaries are usually fuzzy anyhow.