Re: Programming is not a craft

On Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 11:01 AM, Dave Thomas <dave-kbbdpT5sCmpWk0Htik3J/[email protected]> wrote:

>
>
>
>> I recall that sometimes when I'm in a hotel, I reach under the desk
>> and discover that the insides of the boards are rough and unsanded.
>> When I touch better furniture, I discover that the invisible bits
>> are smooth and well finished, though perhaps not to the same high
>> gloss as the visible.
>>
>> The difference, I believe, is craftsmanship.
>>
>
> The thing there being that the difference isn't immediately apparent—that
> the audience for the craft is other people  who care, and who take the time
> and have the knowledge to notice the difference.
>
>
> Dave
>
>  
>

A number of people have used a plumber as an example. In this case, the
pipes leak, but they're in the wall so you don't notice for a while. :)  I
like my plumber to care a bit about his craft. Most customers do as well,
although they may not realize it until things start to leak.

Jared