Comments on: The Craftsmanship of Code http://rodfrey.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/the-craftsmanship-of-code/ It's never too far gone to beat. Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:28:34 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Hidden Pugmarks » Blog Archive » Craftsmanship http://rodfrey.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/the-craftsmanship-of-code/#comment-11 Hidden Pugmarks » Blog Archive » Craftsmanship Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:28:34 +0000 http://rodfrey.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/the-craftsmanship-of-code/#comment-11 [...] was some talk before picking out a table. Last week I read a really great article, The Craftsmanship of Code, that changed how I view quite a few things. It made me think more about the furniture that I [...] [...] was some talk before picking out a table. Last week I read a really great article, The Craftsmanship of Code, that changed how I view quite a few things. It made me think more about the furniture that I [...]

]]> By: Sam http://rodfrey.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/the-craftsmanship-of-code/#comment-6 Sam Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:53:29 +0000 http://rodfrey.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/the-craftsmanship-of-code/#comment-6 Exactly spot on. Another thing that I occasionally think about is that some level craftmanship is really necessary to good software. Humans have very strong inate abilities to see pattern and beauty in everything, and well crafted software not only appeals to these abilities, but helps us to see flaws, because they stick out more. Exactly spot on.

Another thing that I occasionally think about is that some level craftmanship is really necessary to good software. Humans have very strong inate abilities to see pattern and beauty in everything, and well crafted software not only appeals to these abilities, but helps us to see flaws, because they stick out more.

]]> By: TW Andrews http://rodfrey.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/the-craftsmanship-of-code/#comment-5 TW Andrews Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:47:14 +0000 http://rodfrey.wordpress.com/2007/04/18/the-craftsmanship-of-code/#comment-5 Excellent essay. "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" talks a great deal about this sort of stuff (though as related to motorcycle maintenance rather than coding). I'd highly recommend it, if you haven't already read it. The only thing I'd quibble with is this statement. In reference to the initial mass production you said:<blockquote>During the mid 19th century, furniture began to be pumped out by factories using mass production techniques. This was good for most people, who could now afford a chair instead of the stump they hauled inside, but bad for craftsmen, who watched traditional knowledge and techniques disappear. <b>The product was also inferior.</b></blockquote> But the product wasn't necessarily inferior. It was inferior to <b>well-crafted</b> works, but in a lot of cases the machine produced products were and remain superior. The change was really in how much products varied. Excellent essay. “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” talks a great deal about this sort of stuff (though as related to motorcycle maintenance rather than coding). I’d highly recommend it, if you haven’t already read it.

The only thing I’d quibble with is this statement. In reference to the initial mass production you said:

During the mid 19th century, furniture began to be pumped out by factories using mass production techniques. This was good for most people, who could now afford a chair instead of the stump they hauled inside, but bad for craftsmen, who watched traditional knowledge and techniques disappear. The product was also inferior.

But the product wasn’t necessarily inferior. It was inferior to well-crafted works, but in a lot of cases the machine produced products were and remain superior. The change was really in how much products varied.

]]>