Something mysterious
is formed, born in the silent void. Waiting
alone and unmoving, it is
at once still and yet in constant motion.
It is the source of all programs.
I do not know its name, so I will
call it the Tao of Programming.
If the Tao is great, then
the operating system is great. If the
operating system is great,
then the compiler is great. If the
compiler is great, then
the application is great. The user is
pleased and there is harmony
in the world.
The Tao of Programming flows
far away and returns on the wind of
morning.
1.2
The Tao gave birth to machine
language. Machine language gave birth
to the assembler.
The assembler gave birth
to the compiler. Now there are ten thousand
languages.
Each language has its purpose,
however humble. Each language
expresses the Yin and Yang
of software. Each language has its place
within the Tao.
But
do not program in COBOL if you can avoid it.
1.3
In the beginning was the
Tao. The Tao gave birth to Space and Time.
Therefore Space and Time
are Yin and Yang of programming.
Programmers that do not comprehend
the Tao are always running out of
time and space for their
programs. Programmers that comprehend the
Tao always have enough time
and space to accomplish their goals.
How could it be otherwise?
1.4
The wise programmer is told
about Tao and follows it. The average
programmer is told about
Tao and searches for it. The foolish
programmer is told about
Tao and laughs at it.
If
it were not for laughter, there would be no Tao.
The highest sounds are hardest
to hear. Going forward is a way to
retreat. Great talent
shows itself late in life. Even a perfect
program still has bugs.
T h e A n c i e n t M a s t e r s :
B o o k T w o
Thus Spake the Master Programmer:
"After three days without programming, life
becomes meaningless."
2.1
The programmers of old were
mysterious and profound. We cannot
fathom their thoughts, so
all we do is describe their appearance.
Aware, like a fox crossing
the water. Alert, like a general on the
battlefield. Kind,
like a hostess greeting her guests. Simple, like
an uncarved block of wood.
Opaque, like a black pool in a darkened
cave.
Who can tell the secrets
of their hearts and minds?
The answer exists only in
Tao.
2.2
Grand Master Turing once
dreamed that he was a machine. When he
awoke he exclaimed:
"I
don't know whether I am Turing dreaming that I am a machine, or a
machine
dreaming that I am Turing!."
2.3
A programmer from a very
large computer company went to a software
conference and then returned
to report to his manager, saying: "What
sort of programmers work
for other companies? They behaved badly
and were unconcerned with
appearances. Their hair was long and
unkept and their clothes
were wrinkled and old. They trashed out
Hospitality Suite and they
made rude noises during my presentation."
The manager said: "I should
have not sent you to the conference.
Those programmers live beyond
the physical world. They consider life
absurd, an accidental coincidence.
They come and go without knowing
limitations. Without
a care, they live only for their programs. Why
should they bother with
social conventions?
They are alive within the
Tao."
2.4
A novice asked the Master:
"Here is a programmer that never designs,
documents or tests his programs.
Yet all who know him consider him
the best of programmers.
Why is this?"
The Master replies: "That
programmer has mastered the Tao. He has
gone
beyond the need for design; he does not become angry when the
system
crashes, but accepts the universe without concern. He has
gone
beyond the need for documentation; he no longer cares if anyone
else
sees his code. He has gone beyond the need for testing; each of
his
programs is perfect within itself, serene and elegant, its
purpose
self-evident. Truly, he has entered the mystery of Tao."
D e s i g n : B o o k T h r e e
Thus spake the Master Programmer:
"When the program is being tested, it is too
late to make design changes."
3.1
There once was a man who
went to a computer trade show. Each day as
he entered, the man told
the guard at the door:
"I am a great thief, renowned
for my feats of shoplifting. Be
forewarned, for this trade
show shall not escape unplundered."
This speech disturbed the
guard greatly, because there were millions
of dollars of computer equipment
inside, so he watched the man
carefully. But the
man merely wandered from booth to booth, humming
quietly to himself.
When the man left, the guard
took him aside and searched his clothes,
but nothing was to be found.
On the next day of the trade
show, the man returned and chided the
guard saying: "I escaped
with a vast booty yesterday, but today will
be even better." So the
guard watched him ever more closely, but to
no avail.
On the final day of the trade
show, the guard could restrain his
curiosity no longer.
"Sir Thief," he said, "I am so perplexed, I
cannot live in peace.
Please enlighten me. What is it that you are
stealing?"
The man smiled. "I
am stealing ideas," he said.
3.2
There once was a master programmer
who wrote unstructured programs.
A novice programmer, seeking
to imitate him, also began to write
unstructured programs.
When the novice asked the master to evaluate
his progress, the master
criticized him for writing unstructured
programs, saying "What
is appropriate for the master is not
appropriate
for the novice. You must understand Tao before
transcending
structure."
3.3
There was once a programmer
who was attached to the court of the
warlord of Wu. The
warlord asked the programmer: "Which is easier to
design: an accounting package
or an operating system?"
"An operating system," replied
the programmer.
The warlord uttered an exclamation
of disbelief. "Surely an
accounting package is trivial
next to the complexity of an operating
system," he said.
"Not
so," said the programmer, "when designing an accounting package,
the
programmer operates as a mediator between people having different
ideas:
how it must operate, how its reports must appear, and how it
must
conform to the tax laws. By contrast, an operating system is
not
limited by outside appearances. When designing an operating
system,
the programmer seeks the simplest harmony between machine and
ideas.
This is why an operating system is easier to design."
The warlord of Wu nodded
and smiled. "That is all good and well, but
which is easier to debug?"
The programmer made no reply.
3.4
A manager went to the master
programmer and showed him the
requirements document for
a new application. The manager asked the
master: "How long will it
take to design this system if I assign five
programmers to it?"
"It
will take one year," said the master promptly.
"But we need this system
immediately or even sooner! How long will it
take if I assign ten programmers
to it?"
The master programmer frowned.
"In
that case, it will take two
years."
"And what if I assign a hundred
programmers to it?"
The master programmer shrugged.
"Then
the design will never be
completed,"
he said.
C o d i n g : B o o k F o u r
Thus spake the master programmer:
"A well-written program is its own heaven; a
poorly-written program is its own hell."
4.1
A program should be light
and agile, its subroutines connected like a
string of pearls.
The spirit and intent of the program should be
retained throughout.
There should be neither too little or too much,
neither needless loops nor
useless variables, neither lack of struc-
ture nor overwhelming rigidity.
A program
should follow the 'Law of Least Astonishment'. What is
this
law? It is simply that the program should always respond to the
user
in the way that astonishes him least.
A program, no matter how
complex, should act as a single unit. The
program should be directed
by the logic within rather than by outward
appearances.
If the program fails in these
requirements, it will be in a state of
disorder and confusion.
The only way to correct this is to rewrite
the program.
4.2
A novice asked the master:
"I have a program that sometime runs and
sometimes aborts.
I have followed the rules of programming, yet I am
totally baffled. What
is the reason for this?"
The
master replied: "You are confused because you do not understand
Tao.
Only a fool expects rational behavior from his fellow humans.
Why
do you expect it from a machine that humans have constructed?
Computers
simulate determinism; only Tao is perfect.
The
rules of programming are transitory; only Tao is eternal.
Therefore
you must contemplate Tao before you receive
enlightenment."
"But how will I know when
I have received enlightenment?" asked the
novice.
"Your
program will then run correctly," replied the master.
4.3
A master was explaining the nature
of Tao to one of his novices,
"The
Tao is embodied in all software -- regardless of how
insignificant,"
said the master.
"Is the Tao in a hand-held
calculator?" asked the novice.
"It
is," came the reply.
"Is the Tao in a video game?"
continued the novice.
"It
is even in a video game," said the master.
"And is the Tao in the DOS
for a personal computer?"
The
master coughed and shifted his position slightly. "The lesson is
over
for today," he said.
4.4
Prince Wang's programmer
was coding software. His fingers danced
upon the keyboard.
The program compiled without an error message,
and the program ran like
a gentle wind.
"Excellent!" the Prince exclaimed,
"Your technique is faultless!"
"Technique?"
said the programmer turning from his terminal, "What I
follow
is Tao -- beyond all techniques! When I first began to program
I
would see before me the whole problem in one mass. After three
years
I no longer saw this mass. Instead, I used subroutines. But
now
I see nothing. My whole being exists in a formless void. My
senses
are idle. My spirit, free to work without plan, follows its
own
instinct. In short, my program writes itself. True, sometimes
there
are difficult problems. I see them coming, I slow down, I
watch
silently. Then I change a single line of code and the
difficulties
vanish like puffs of idle smoke. I then compile the
program.
I sit still and let the joy of the work fill my being. I
close
my eyes for a moment and then log off."
Prince Wang said, "Would
that all of my programmers were as wise!"
M a i n t e n a n c e : B o o k F i v e
Thus spake the master programmer:
"Though a program be but three lines long, someday
it will have to be maintained."
5.1
A
well-used door needs no oil on its hinges. A swift-flowing stream
does
not grow stagnant. Neither sound nor thoughts can travel
through
a vacuum. Software rots if not used.
These
are great mysteries.
5.2
A manager asked a programmer
how long it would take him to finish the
program on which he was
working. "I will be finished tomorrow," the
programmer promptly replied.
"I think you are being unrealistic,"
said the manager, "Truthfully,
how long will it take?"
The programmer thought for
a moment. "I have some features that I
wish to add. This
will take at least two weeks," he finally said.
"Even that is too much to
expect," insisted the manager, "I will be
satisfied if you simply
tell me when the program is complete."
The programmer agreed to
this.
Several years later, the
manager retired. On the way to his
retirement lunch, he discovered
the programmer asleep at his
terminal. He had been
programming all night.
5.3
A novice programmer was once
assigned to code simple financial
package.
The novice worked furiously
for many days, but when his master
reviewed his program, he
discovered that it contained a screen
editor, a set of generalized
graphics routines, an artificial
intelligence interface,
but not the slightest mention of anything
financial.
When the master asked about
this, the novice became indignant.
"Don't be so impatient,"
he said, " I'll put in the financial stuff
eventually."
5.4
Does a good farmer neglect
a crop he has planted? Does a good
teacher overlook even the
most humble student? Does a good father
allow a single child to
starve? Does a good programmer refuse to
maintain his code?
M a n a g e m e n t : B o o k S i x
Thus spake the master programmer:
"Let the programmers be many and the managers
few -- then all will be productive."
6.1
When
managers hold endless meetings, the programmers write games.
When
accountants talk of quarterly profits, the development budget is
about
to be cut. When senior scientists talk blue sky, the clouds
are
about to roll in.
Truly,
this is not the Tao of Programming.
When
managers make commitments, game programs are ignored. When
accountants
make long range plans, harmony and order are about to be
restored.
When senior scientists address the problems at hand, the
problems
will soon be solved.
Truly,
this is the Tao of Programming.
6.2
Why are programmers non-productive?
Because their time is wasted in
meetings.
Why are programmers rebellious?
Because the management interferes
too much.
Why are the programmers resigning
one by one? Because they are burnt
out.
Having
worked for poor management, they no longer value their jobs.
6.3
A manager was about to be
fired, but a programmer who worked for him
invented a new program that
became popular and sold well. As a
result, the manager retained
his job.
The manager tries to give
the programmer a bonus, but the programmer
refused it, saying, "I wrote
the program because I thought it was an
interesting concept, and
thus I expect no reward."
The manager upon hearing
this remarked, "This programmer, though he
holds a position of small
esteem, understands well the proper duty of
an employee. Let us
promote him to the exalted position of
management consultant!"
But when told this, the programmer
once more refused, saying, "I
exist
so that I can program. If I were promoted, I would do
nothing
but waste everyone's time. Can I go now? I have a program
that
I'm working on."
6.4
A manager went to his programmers
and told them: "As regards to your
work hours: you are going
to have to come in at nine in the morning
and leave at five in the
afternoon." At this, all of them became
angry and several resigned
on the spot."
So the manager said: "All
right, in that case you may set your own
working hours, as long as
you finish your projects on schedule." The
programmers,
now satisfied, began to come in at noon and work to the
wee
hours of the morning.
C o r p o r a t e W i s d o m : B o o k
S e v e n
Thus spake the master programmer:
"You can demonstrate a program for a corporate
executive, but you can't make him computer literate."
7.1
A novice asked the master:
"In the east there is a great
tree-structure that men
call 'Corporate Headquarters'. It is
bloated out of shape with
vice presidents and accountants. It issues
a multitude of memos, each
saying 'Go, Hence!' or 'Go, Hither!' and
nobody knows what is meant.
Every year new names are put onto the
branches, but all to no
avail. How can such an unnatural entity
exist?"
The master replies: "You
perceive this immense structure and are
disturbed that it has no
rational purpose. Can you not take
amusement from its endless
gyrations? Do you not enjoy the
untroubled ease of programming
beneath its sheltering branches? Why
are you bothered by its
uselessness?"
7.2
In the east there is a shark
which is larger than all other fish. It
changes into a bird whose
wings are like clouds filling the sky.
When this bird moves across
the land, it brings a message from
Corporate Headquarters.
This message it drops into the midst of the
programmers, like a seagull
making its mark upon the beach. Then
the bird mounts on the wind
and, with the blue sky at its back,
returns home.
The novice programmer stares
in wonder at the bird, for he
understands it not.
The average programmer dreads the coming of
the bird, for he fears its
message. The master programmer
continues to work at his
terminal, for he does not know that the bird
has come and gone.
7.3
The Magician of the Ivory
Tower brought his latest invention for the
master programmer to examine.
The magician wheeled a large black box
into the master's office
while the master waited in silence.
"This is an integrated, distributed,
general-purpose workstation,"
began the magician, "ergonomically
designed with a proprietary
operating system, sixth
generation languages, and multiple state of
the art user interfaces.
It took my assistants several hundred man
years to construct.
Is it not amazing?"
The master raised his eyebrows
slightly. "It is indeed amazing," he
said.
"Corporate Headquarters has
commanded," continued the magician, "that
everyone use this workstation
as a platform for new programs. Do you
agree to this?"
"Certainly,"
replied the master, " I will have it transported to the
data
center immediately!" And the magician returned to his tower,
well pleased.
Several days later, a novice
wandered into the office of the master
programmer and said, "I
cannot find the listing for my new program.
Do you know where it might
be?"
"Yes,"
replied the master, "the listings are stacked on the platform
in
the data center."
7.4
The master programmer moves
from program to program without fear. No
change in management can
harm him. He will not be fired, even if
the project is cancelled.
Why is this? He is filled with Tao.
H a r d w a r e a n d S o f t w a r e :
B o o k E i g h t
Thus spake the master programmer:
"Without the wind, the grass does not move. Without
software, hardware is useless."
8.1
A novice asked the master:
"I perceive that one computer company is
much larger than all others.
It towers above its competition like a
giant among dwarfs.
Any one of its divisions could comprise an
entire business. Why
is this so?"
The master replied, "Why
do you ask such foolish questions? That
company is large because
it is large. If it only made hardware,
nobody would buy it.
If it only made software, nobody would use it.
If it only maintained systems,
people would treat it like a servant.
But be- cause it combines
all of these things, people think it one of
the gods! By not seeking
to strive, it conquers without effort."
8.2
A master programmer passed
a novice programmer one day. The master
noted the novice's preoccupation
with a hand-held computer game.
"Excuse me", he said, "may
I examine it?"
The novice bolted to attention
and handed the device to the master.
"I see that the device claims
to have three levels of play: Easy,
Medium and Hard," said the
master. "Yet every such device has
another level of play, where
the device seeks not to conquer the
human, nor to be conquered
by the human."
"Pray, great master", implored
the novice, "how does one find this
mysterious setting?"
The master dropped the device
to the ground and crushed it under
foot. And suddenly
the novice was enlightened.
8.3
There was once a programmer
who worked upon microprocessors. "Look
at how well off I am here,"
he said to a mainframe programmer who
came to visit, "I have my
own operating system and file storage
device. I do not have
to share my resources with anyone. The
software is self-consistant
and easy-to-use. Why do you not quit
your present job and join
me here?"
The mainframe programmer
then began to describe his system to his
friend, saying "The mainframe
sits like an ancient sage meditating in
the midst of the data center.
Its disk drives lie end-to-end like a
great ocean of machinery.
The software is as multifaceted as a dia-
mond, and as convoluted
as a primeval jungle. The programs, each
unique, move through the
system like a swift-flowing river. That is
why I am happy where I am."
The microcomputer programmer,
upon hearing this, fell silent. But
the two programmers remained
friends until the end of their days.
8.4
Hardware met Software on
the road to Changtse. Software said: "You
are Yin and I am Yang.
If we travel together we will become famous
and earn vast sums of money."
And so the set forth together,
thinking to conquer the
world.
Presently they met Firmware,
who was dressed in tattered rags and
hobbled along propped on
a thorny stick. Firmware said to them: "The
Tao
lies beyond Yin and Yang. It is silent and still as a pool of
water.
It does not seek fame, therefore nobody knows its presence.
It
does not seek fortune, for it is complete within itself. It
exists
beyond space and time."
Software and Hardware, ashamed,
returned to their homes.
E p i l o g u e : B o o k N i n e
Thus spake the Master Programmer:
"Time for you to leave."