Why Programming Rituals Work 233
narramissic writes "Programmers may not think that their rituals are unusual, but if you swear that your code is less buggy if you recite it aloud or you prepare for coding by listening to certain music, don't be surprised if you get a couple sideways glances. In a recent ITworld article, Issac Kelly, Lead Developer at Servee.com, explains his routine and why it works: 'To me, programming is really the 'last mile' to getting something done. When I do the planning and specifications, I go on lots of walks, take lots of time with my wife, and really do as little work in front of the computer as possible. The more I plan (in my head, on paper, on a whiteboard) the less I program; and all of my rituals are to that end.' His ritual goes like this: 'Before sitting down to a coding session, he gets a big glass of water, takes everything off of his desk, and closes out all programs and e-mail, keeping open only his code editor. The office door is shut, and some sort of music is playing ('typically an instrumental only, like my 'Explosions in the Sky' pandora station,' says Kelly).'"
AAAAAnd (Score:5, Funny)
There's Slashdot. Even when I do everything else, Slashdot is the final work-preventer.
My rituals (in order, of course): (Score:5, Funny)
1. Make a cup of coffee: Community New Orleans blend, one sugar, hazelnut creamer.
2. Read reddit.
3. Check social status sites: facebook, twitter, etc.
4. Read CNN.
5. Read email.
6. Catch up with coworkers.
7. Juggle a bit.
8. Put on headphones. Go to last.fm and hunt for a station that fits my current mood.
9. Check reddit again.
10. Go to lunch.
11. Read email.
12. Check reddit again.
13. Update to-do list.
14. Check icanhazcheezburger, etc.
15. Pick different last.fm station.
Re:I can completely understand... (Score:5, Funny)
Yes, sometimes I fall asleep on the toilet when I do this.
My code works better (Score:5, Funny)
...when I make sure to release it when most of the testing group is on vacation. Vastly cuts down on the initial bug list, let me tell you.
Re:How is this a ritual? (Score:3, Funny)
Duke Nukem Forever had this problem. They spent so much time saying "THIS GAME IS GOING TO BE SO AWESOME" that they never wrote any code!
Not a ritual! (Score:5, Funny)
Crikey! That's just sensible work organisation. I guess if you find something that works and always do it that way you might call it a ritual. My ritual is to get in the car and go to work every morning... that way I can do, well you know... WORK!
Re:How is this a ritual? (Score:5, Funny)
There's even a simple proof of that: all bugs come from coding. Therefore, the less time you spend coding, the less bugs you'll produce :-).
Re:I can completely understand... (Score:5, Funny)
Actually, considering his orientation, I might have.... but I really prefer not to think about it :)
Re:Iteration vs planning... (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, if only there was some way of tracking information without keeping at all in your head at once.
Re:"Doing nothing" is not nothing... (Score:5, Funny)
Posting this for the second time in the past week, because it's apt:
Could you grimace so I know you're working? [dilbert.com]
Re:I can completely understand... (Score:4, Funny)
http://xkcd.com/323/
WTF (Score:5, Funny)
I stopped reading right there.
I am a C# programmer (Score:2, Funny)
My ritual consists of watching this [youtube.com] and then killing a goat
Re:I can completely understand... (Score:5, Funny)
Actually, considering his orientation
He's Asian?
Re:My rituals (in order, of course): (Score:5, Funny)
I'm willing to bet that you make at least 6 figures with a job description like that.
Re:Programming happens in the mind (Score:2, Funny)
Or a group of exhibitionists.
Re:My rituals (in order, of course): (Score:5, Funny)
And after all this, then - ONLY THEN - are you finally ready to post on Slashdot.
Aha! (Score:2, Funny)
Why programming rituals work ... short answer. (Score:5, Funny)
It's magic.
Re:I can completely understand... (Score:4, Funny)
If you have 3 things that needs to be done and committed by tomorrow, then there's going to be a tendency towards hackery. If you've got one thing that the company wants you to work on until it's finished, then you need to be more of a thinker.
I bet Duke Nukem Forever team members are all philosophers, by now...
Re:WTF (Score:2, Funny)
I put on my robe and wizard hat...
Re:WTF (Score:1, Funny)
... I get my robe and wizard hat
Re:I can completely understand... (Score:5, Funny)
Well...
All the amazing solutions that I've had while asleep or in delerium have always seemed really good for the 30 minutes of furious waking coding... before the "What the f**k is this garbage? It will never work..." gets shouted out.
My subconscious thinks this is hilarious.