The Tao of Programming
Translated By Geoffrey James
Transcribed By Seth Robertson
Transformed to Html by Egon Pasztor
_________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents:
* Book 1 -- The Silent Void
* Book 2 -- The Ancient Masters
* Book 3 -- Design
* Book 4 -- Coding
* Book 5 -- Maintenance
* Book 6 -- Management
* Book 7 -- Corporate Wisdom
* Book 8 -- Hardware and Software
* Book 9 -- Epilogue
_________________________________________________________________
The Silent Void
Book One
________________________________________________________
Thus spake the master programmer:
"When you have learned to snatch the error code from
the trap frame, it will be time for you to leave."
________________________________________________________
1.1
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 greater, then the applications are 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 the 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 the Tao and follows it. The
average programmer is told about the Tao and searches for it.
The foolish programmer is told about the Tao and laughs at it.
If it were not for laughter, there would be no Tao.
The highest sounds are the hardest to hear. Going forward is a
way to retreat. Greater talent shows itself late in life. Even
a perfect program still has bugs.
_________________________________________________________________
The Ancient Masters
Book Two
________________________________________________________
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 uncarved blocks of wood. Opaque, like black pools
in darkened caves.
Who can tell the secrets of their hearts and minds?
The answer exists only in the 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 unkempt and their clothes were wrinkled and
old. They crashed our hospitality suite and they made rude
noises during my presentation."
The manager said: "I should have never 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 one of the best programmers in the world. 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 are perfect within
themselves, serene and elegant, their purpose self-evident.
Truly, he has entered the mystery of the Tao."
_________________________________________________________________
Design
Book Three
_____________________________________________________
Thus spake the master programmer:
"When 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 the 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.
_________________________________________________________________
=========Part I End: Book 1/2/3==========
<The Tao of Programming> Part II:
======Beginning of Part II=======
Coding
Book Four
_____________________________________________________
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 strings of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program
should be retained throughout. There should be neither too
little nor too much, neither needless loops nor useless
variables, neither lack of structure 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 sometimes
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 the 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
the Tao is perfect.
The rules of programming are transitory; only the Tao is
eternal. Therefore you must contemplate the 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 the 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 the Tao -- beyond all technique. When I first
began to program I would see before me the whole program 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 a 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!"
_________________________________________________________________
Maintenance
Book Five
_____________________________________________________
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 a 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, and 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 the financial stuff
in 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?
_________________________________________________________________
Management
Book Six
_____________________________________________________
Thus spake the master programmer:
"Let the programmer 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 of 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 tried to give the programmer a bonus, but the
programmer refused it, saying, "I wrote the program because I
though 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. Lets 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 manger 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 a
noon and work to the wee hours of the morning.
_________________________________________________________________
======End of Part II: Book 4/5/6==========
<The Tao of Programming> Part III(續完)
=====Part III Begin=================
Corporate Wisdom
Book Seven
_____________________________________________________
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 winds 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 program- mers, 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 canceled. Why is this? He is
filled with the Tao.
_________________________________________________________________
Hardware and Software
Book Eight
_____________________________________________________
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 so large. If it only made
hardware, nobody would buy it. If it only maintained systems,
people would treat it like a servant. But because 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-consistent 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 a
multi-faceted as a diamond 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 the Yin and I am the Yang. If we travel together we
will become famous and earn vast sums of money." And so the
pair 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 seeks fortune, for it is
complete within itself. It exists beyond space and time."
Software and Hardware, ashamed, returned to their homes.
_________________________________________________________________
Epilogue
Book Nine
_____________________________________________________
Thus spake the master programmer:
"Time for you to leave."
編程大師如是說:
“該是你出師的時候啦。”
（載注：看到此處不僅撫鍵一笑，深感可意會不可言傳之道之妙。非不能
也，乃因道一經口舌，只能表其一面；而道乃完滿，難道其全。
是故不道，令衆人自悟之也。GNU之***道之吸引力足可鑑之。）
_____________________________________________________
=====Part III End: Book 7/8/9=======
Translated By Geoffrey James
Transcribed By Seth Robertson
Transformed to Html by Egon Pasztor
_________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents:
* Book 1 -- The Silent Void
* Book 2 -- The Ancient Masters
* Book 3 -- Design
* Book 4 -- Coding
* Book 5 -- Maintenance
* Book 6 -- Management
* Book 7 -- Corporate Wisdom
* Book 8 -- Hardware and Software
* Book 9 -- Epilogue
_________________________________________________________________
The Silent Void
Book One
________________________________________________________
Thus spake the master programmer:
"When you have learned to snatch the error code from
the trap frame, it will be time for you to leave."
________________________________________________________
1.1
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 greater, then the applications are 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 the 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 the Tao and follows it. The
average programmer is told about the Tao and searches for it.
The foolish programmer is told about the Tao and laughs at it.
If it were not for laughter, there would be no Tao.
The highest sounds are the hardest to hear. Going forward is a
way to retreat. Greater talent shows itself late in life. Even
a perfect program still has bugs.
_________________________________________________________________
The Ancient Masters
Book Two
________________________________________________________
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 uncarved blocks of wood. Opaque, like black pools
in darkened caves.
Who can tell the secrets of their hearts and minds?
The answer exists only in the 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 unkempt and their clothes were wrinkled and
old. They crashed our hospitality suite and they made rude
noises during my presentation."
The manager said: "I should have never 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 one of the best programmers in the world. 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 are perfect within
themselves, serene and elegant, their purpose self-evident.
Truly, he has entered the mystery of the Tao."
_________________________________________________________________
Design
Book Three
_____________________________________________________
Thus spake the master programmer:
"When 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 the 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.
_________________________________________________________________
=========Part I End: Book 1/2/3==========
<The Tao of Programming> Part II:
======Beginning of Part II=======
Coding
Book Four
_____________________________________________________
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 strings of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program
should be retained throughout. There should be neither too
little nor too much, neither needless loops nor useless
variables, neither lack of structure 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 sometimes
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 the 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
the Tao is perfect.
The rules of programming are transitory; only the Tao is
eternal. Therefore you must contemplate the 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 the 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 the Tao -- beyond all technique. When I first
began to program I would see before me the whole program 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 a 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!"
_________________________________________________________________
Maintenance
Book Five
_____________________________________________________
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 a 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, and 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 the financial stuff
in 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?
_________________________________________________________________
Management
Book Six
_____________________________________________________
Thus spake the master programmer:
"Let the programmer 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 of 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 tried to give the programmer a bonus, but the
programmer refused it, saying, "I wrote the program because I
though 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. Lets 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 manger 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 a
noon and work to the wee hours of the morning.
_________________________________________________________________
======End of Part II: Book 4/5/6==========
<The Tao of Programming> Part III(續完)
=====Part III Begin=================
Corporate Wisdom
Book Seven
_____________________________________________________
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 winds 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 program- mers, 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 canceled. Why is this? He is
filled with the Tao.
_________________________________________________________________
Hardware and Software
Book Eight
_____________________________________________________
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 so large. If it only made
hardware, nobody would buy it. If it only maintained systems,
people would treat it like a servant. But because 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-consistent 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 a
multi-faceted as a diamond 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 the Yin and I am the Yang. If we travel together we
will become famous and earn vast sums of money." And so the
pair 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 seeks fortune, for it is
complete within itself. It exists beyond space and time."
Software and Hardware, ashamed, returned to their homes.
_________________________________________________________________
Epilogue
Book Nine
_____________________________________________________
Thus spake the master programmer:
"Time for you to leave."
編程大師如是說:
“該是你出師的時候啦。”
（載注：看到此處不僅撫鍵一笑，深感可意會不可言傳之道之妙。非不能
也，乃因道一經口舌，只能表其一面；而道乃完滿，難道其全。
是故不道，令衆人自悟之也。GNU之***道之吸引力足可鑑之。）
_____________________________________________________
=====Part III End: Book 7/8/9=======