Comments on: Craftsmanship as a Bridge http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/ Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:41:01 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Jack http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-96 Jack Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:18:47 +0000 http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-96 NVwDudslAGmsl NVwDudslAGmsl

]]> By: catena http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-24 catena Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:37:32 +0000 http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-24 I agree that craftsmanship is a better analogy to current programming practice than an industrial process. I posted a similar take on this, which emphasizes the nature of the running processes we create. Blacksmithing a Train Engine http://swtools.wordpress.com/2007/05/08/blacksmithing-a-train-engine/ I agree that craftsmanship is a better analogy to current programming practice than an industrial process. I posted a similar take on this, which emphasizes the nature of the running processes we create.

Blacksmithing a Train Engine
http://swtools.wordpress.com/2007/05/08/blacksmithing-a-train-engine/

]]> By: Blacksmithing a Train Engine « Software Tools http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-23 Blacksmithing a Train Engine « Software Tools Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:33:22 +0000 http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-23 [...] More on software blacksmithing, apprenticeship, and artistry: Craftsmanship as a Bridge. [...] [...] More on software blacksmithing, apprenticeship, and artistry: Craftsmanship as a Bridge. [...]

]]> By: Russell Lankenau http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-7 Russell Lankenau Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:59:50 +0000 http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-7 Oh, by the way, Victoria, I'm an NCC alum :) Oh, by the way, Victoria, I’m an NCC alum :)

]]> By: Russell Lankenau http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-6 Russell Lankenau Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:58:58 +0000 http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-6 I came across something a while back that talked about the fact that programming leans a bit more toward art than engineering, but most of us don't study it the way we would other disciplines recognized as 'art'. An art major who has just received their degree will (hopefully) at least be able to recognize different styles of art, probably place them by period and artist, and describe the techniques used. When I graduated with my degree in computer science, I had seen little code other than my own and the examples in my textbooks, hadn't even heard of patterns in a formal way (I thought I had invented singletons), and didn't have a clue about software development methodology. I'd love to see a project (maybe on wikibooks?) that approaches an introductory software course from that angle. I came across something a while back that talked about the fact that programming leans a bit more toward art than engineering, but most of us don’t study it the way we would other disciplines recognized as ‘art’.

An art major who has just received their degree will (hopefully) at least be able to recognize different styles of art, probably place them by period and artist, and describe the techniques used. When I graduated with my degree in computer science, I had seen little code other than my own and the examples in my textbooks, hadn’t even heard of patterns in a formal way (I thought I had invented singletons), and didn’t have a clue about software development methodology.

I’d love to see a project (maybe on wikibooks?) that approaches an introductory software course from that angle.

]]> By: Victoria http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-4 Victoria Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:55:31 +0000 http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-4 Great thoughts! I found myself comparing code to art when I was talking to NCC students yesterday, but I love that blacksmith analogy. I actually haven't heard of the idea of programming as poetry before, but it gets me extremely excited because it correlates with a certain project I've been rolling around in my head. Heheheh! The untapped potential, as you say, makes life so exciting in this field!!! Great thoughts! I found myself comparing code to art when I was talking to NCC students yesterday, but I love that blacksmith analogy. I actually haven’t heard of the idea of programming as poetry before, but it gets me extremely excited because it correlates with a certain project I’ve been rolling around in my head. Heheheh! The untapped potential, as you say, makes life so exciting in this field!!!

]]> By: Chris Norton http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-3 Chris Norton Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:10:04 +0000 http://syntatic.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/craftsmanship-as-a-bridge/#comment-3 A common way of relating software engineering is to compare it to other kinds of engineering and simply talk about how the raw materials are different. I do like the blacksmith analogy though so I'll investigate that a bit more! One thing I like about engineering is that there are aspects of art that are inherent in everything we do. We express ourselves creatively when we come up with novel approaches for things and engineers, like most people, are drawn towards solutions that are simple and "elegant", while still solving our problem. In areas like interface design this creativity is even more apparent. A common way of relating software engineering is to compare it to other kinds of engineering and simply talk about how the raw materials are different. I do like the blacksmith analogy though so I’ll investigate that a bit more!

One thing I like about engineering is that there are aspects of art that are inherent in everything we do. We express ourselves creatively when we come up with novel approaches for things and engineers, like most people, are drawn towards solutions that are simple and “elegant”, while still solving our problem. In areas like interface design this creativity is even more apparent.

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