Re: Learning C++
In article <slrnhkrpkb.cnv.apoelstra@localhost.localdomain>, apoelstra@wpsoftware.net wrote:
On 2010-01-13, gwowen <gwowen@gmail.com> wrote:
On Jan 13, 8:33?am, ta...@mongo.net (tanix) wrote:
Would you like to do some work for someone and not get a
piece of bread on your table?
I frequently don't mind, especially if my unremunerated work has some
sort of societal benefit. I have sufficient bread. The only
criterion is that I get to pick and choose what work I do.
Have you never helped a stranger without thought of remuneration or
reciprocation?
It's not a big leap from their to the Open Source culture, especially
if you're the sort of person who finds programming to be enjoyable.
For a lot of open source programmers, they're writing code for their
own use, and given that they have zero to no interest in marketing or
sales, make it freely available since they wouldn't be making money
anyway. (Nor do they need the money, if they're volunteer coding.)
Sorry, but I have to plug in into this one.
Yes, understood. They are kinda write it for "their own use".
But...
There is a big but.
The thing is we are talking about, which means we know about
their code somehow. So they did release something somewhere.
So...
The question becomes: if you write some code, do you love yourself
enough to make it beautiful?
Do you want OTHERS to be able to understand what you did?
Do you want your creation to live on?
Do you think you have spent all this time and it is worth
something, not in terms of "money", but in terms of LIFE?
Do you LOVE what you are doing?
Well, in case you do, then...
Then make sure you write the cream of the crop.
Make sure your creation lives on, and to do that,
take all the time necessary to DOCUMENT your creation
so others can undestand it.
Otherwise...
Well, otherwise you just wasted some of your life
for no good reason.
That means you do not respect your own creation well enough
to make sure it lives on.
Everything you do from now on counts.
Every effort you make to create something counts.
Every bit you contribute counts.
Forget about the usual habit of this ego-centric
"holier than thou" or "I could care less if you can understand
my latest and greatest creation".
Finished.
Bas.
That trip is over.
We are in a new game now.
--
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