Why do you program?

[Tuberload]

I hope this is the appropriate place for this.

I program because it allows me to mentally create anything I like, without the restrictions of money, materials, and manpower. I can have a great idea and work for it now, not tomorrow. I am not bound by the greed of man, but set free by the will of my mind.

I program because it allows me to disappear into a realm of code, where I am the master and it is my slave. I can carefully craft precise instructions, and it will follow them to a blissful haven or the bitter end. Not caring if it will live or die, it only wants to serve its creator.

I program because it lets my mind escape. Flying free through the valleys of errors, and the mountaintops of a working entity. I am able to be a student, and a teacher at the same time. I am a master, and a slave simultaneously. I can close my eyes and venture deep into space, attempting to solve a problem beyond that of my current certainty. All the while knowing that I am expanding my knowledge into something greater, not being hindered by the so-called experts.

I program because it is an ultimate puzzle. Ever changing twists and turns as I approach what I perceive to be perfection. There is no one defined way to achieve my destiny. I can follow the beaten path, or rise above the rest, and pave a new road.

Now I ask, why do you program?

Edit: Removed "My mind can escape into a world not prejudice because of my race, religion, or sex, but a world of acceptance based on my intelligence and grace." because I don't feel it fits into the overall point.

[UserLoser.]

Because it's fun

[effect]

Because i have a problem that requires a solution.

edit: worse spelling of problem i have ever done.

[Adron]

I program for #1, #2, #4, to make things that haven't been made before, and to test the limits of possibility.

The thing with not caring about race, religion, age or sex is probably more of a reason to visit forums, chats and newsgroups to talk and exchange ideas.

[Tuberload]

The thing with not caring about race, religion, age or sex is probably more of a reason to visit forums, chats and newsgroups to talk and exchange ideas.

Yes, I was referring more about programming communities. Kind of in the sense that if I was to build a house I would more than likely be a part of a team building it. I could be classified in those terms. I can program however, without such classifications.

[Adron]

Yes, I was referring more about programming communities. Kind of in the sense that if I was to build a house I would more than likely be a part of a team building it. I could be classified in those terms. I can program however, without such classifications.

Ah, but you could build a house alone, just as you can write a program together in a team. Programming in a team is even more fun than programming alone.

The greatest advantage I see in programming compared to other pastimes is like you say that it doesn't require expensive materials to refine. Anyone with the mind for it can program. The only resource you really need is time, lots of time.

[Tuberload]

Ah, but you could build a house alone, just as you can write a program together in a team. Programming in a team is even more fun than programming alone.

The greatest advantage I see in programming compared to other pastimes is like you say that it doesn't require expensive materials to refine. Anyone with the mind for it can program. The only resource you really need is time, lots of time.

Quite true. Unfortunately I have never been able to participate in a group-programming project. Would be interesting to see how well I would fit into the equation some day.

[Banana fanna fo fanna]

1 and 4, but mainly because my girlfriend has mono

[Falcon[anti-yL]]

I program to pass computer science.

[Zeller]

I do it for the challenge

[SNiFFeR]

eh, boredem. Pretty much for fun.

[iago]

I'm with Zeller and UserLoser.  Mostly UserLoser.

[Zakath]

For the hot programmer chicks, of course. What other reason could there be?

[hismajesty]

I like the feeling I get after spending hours on a problem and finally solve it. I like being in control, yet being controlled at the same time. As Tuberload said, the code is my master yet also my slave. I'm left only with restrictions of caffeine supply and my knowledge, and if the problem surpasses my knowledge I'm required to work at it and not give up which, in turn, eventually solves the problem and increases my knowledge. When you program your way of thinking in real world situations in altered for the better, the way you perceive things changes and your mind strengthens. I like imagining myself in a dark room with four walls filled with code, and I there creating the masterpiece. The code is your child, your creation, if you treat it right and nuture it it'll place you in a state of europhoria (or maybe that's the caffeine working. )

[Eric]

For the hot programmer chicks, of course. What other reason could there be?

Agreed.