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Is Programming Art?

Posted by Zonk on from the painting-a-good-program dept.

chromatic writes "A constant question for software developers is 'What is the nature of programming?' Is it art or science? Does creativity or engineering lead the design and implementation of a program? John Littler talked to several well-known and well-respected programmers (including Guido van Rossum, Andy Hunt, Bjarne Stroustrup, Paul Graham, and Richard Stallman) to find their answers; he shares their thoughts and his own in Art and Computer Programming." From the article: "What the heck is art anyway, at least as most people understand it? What do people mean when they say 'art'? A straw poll showed a fair degree of consensus--art is craft plus a special degree of inspiration. This pretty much explains immediately why only art students and art critics at a certain sort of paper favor conceptual art. Conceptual art, of course, often lacks a craft component as people usually understand the term."

3 of 462 comments (clear)

  1. Didn't Knuth answer this already? by John+Jorsett · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Art of Computer Programming, Vols 1-3

  2. Re:Not a fine art by Desert+Raven · · Score: 3, Informative

    Wow, I agree with Richard on something.

    All programming is a craft. Some of it may be crap, and some may be outstanding, but nonetheless, it is craft. Think of it like woodwork. Some pieces are shoddy little boxes nailed togather with scrap. Others are beautiful and extremely strong, with joints so tightly fit that the only way you even know they are there is by the change of the wood-grain.

    *Some* programming is art. (Not much in my opinion.)

    In addition to being a programmer, I'm a leatherworker. Most of what I do is pure craft, but not necessarily art. Belts, straps, repairs, pouches, etc.

    *Sometimes* what I do is art. These are functional pieces with elaborate carving, painting and even occasionally gold leaf and such. They are one-of-a kind pieces that even if another craftsman copied them, would never be quite the same as the original.

    That said, the vast majority of code out there is not even up to journeyman standards, let alone master-craftsman level.

  3. Yes by cspring007 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Programming of any sort of value is most certainly an artform
    Well, at least, that is what i think of it as. Anyone can write code. Writing code well and being innovative is an art.

    this is also an art
    http://gprime.net/images/sidewalkchalkguy/
    Coolest thing i have ever seen.
    ...Now if only he could somehow hook it up to google maps..