Editing 378: Real Programmers
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic is a satire on the idea of a {{w|Real Programmer}}. To quote Wikipedia "...the computer folklore term Real Programmer has come to describe the archetypical 'hardcore' programmer who eschews the modern languages and tools of the day in | + | This comic is a satire on the idea of a {{w|Real Programmer}}. To quote Wikipedia "...the computer folklore term Real Programmer has come to describe the archetypical 'hardcore' programmer who eschews the modern languages and tools of the day in favour of more direct and efficient solutions—closer to the hardware." The implication is that modern programmers are coddled by today's tools of the trade, which eschew detailed understanding for simple workflows. |
− | The first figure is writing a piece of code when another programmer ridicules him for using {{w|GNU nano}}. Nano is a {{w|text editor}} - a program often used to edit the source code of other programs | + | The first figure is writing a piece of code when another programmer ridicules him for using {{w|GNU nano}}. Nano is a {{w|text editor}} - a program often used to edit the source code of other programs; it is modern, simple, and easy-to-use. He goes on to say that "REAL" programmers use {{w|Emacs}}. {{w|GNU Emacs}} is a popular editor known for its vast profusion of features and extensions to perform all sorts of functions beyond simple text editing, and is widely regarded as one of the best examples of software. The comic continues from here as a {{tvtropes|NoTrueScotsman|series of programmers state progressively more obscure or outdated methods that "real programmers would use}}. Culminating in the final programmer who claims that "real" programmers use butterflies. |
− | His description of his rather surreal programming method is ludicrously complicated and would require an absurd amount of knowledge and forethought to pull off, bordering on omniscience. In the final panel | + | His description of his rather surreal programming method is ludicrously complicated and would require an absurd amount of knowledge and forethought to pull off, bordering on omniscience. In the final panel the Emacs programmer claims that there's an Emacs code to do that. |
− | + | Emacs and {{w|Vim (text editor)|Vim}} are both text editors. {{w|ed (text editor)|ed}} is a {{w|line editor}}. These represent progressively more "old school" solutions to the problem of editing code. {{w|cat (Unix)|cat}} is a Unix program that concatenates and outputs the contents of files; and it's usually run from a {{w|Unix shell}}, which allows its output to be written or appended to a file. | |
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− | + | Using a magnetised needle to flip bits on a hard drive requires nanometric precision and intuitive mastery of binary code, but in the early days of programming people did use needles sometimes to fix bugs on {{w|Punched card|Punched cards}}. | |
− | The fact that Emacs already has a command for this simply | + | When final character suggests the utterly surreal idea of using butterflies he is referring to the {{w|Butterfly effect in popular culture|Butterfly effect}}, a "phenomenon whereby a minor change in circumstances can cause a large change in outcome". The joke at this point relies on stretching the connection between the ideas of "difficult-to-use" and "requires detailed understanding of underlying principles", to suggest that not only do ''Real'' Programmers know everything about how computers work, but they know how to manipulate the ambient physical environment in elaborate ways to cause computers to do what they want, akin to performing {{w|trick shot}}s that accomplish feats of programming. |
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+ | The fact that Emacs already has a command for this simply exasperates the programmers frustration with modern programming tools. | ||
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+ | {{w|GNU Emacs}} succeeds despite being riddled with {{w|Feature creep|featuritis}}. | ||
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+ | Emacs commands are usually referred to by the key sequence required to activate them, such as "C-x M-c" (Control-x Meta-c, though this exact key sequence is a bit different from most Emacs commands). The macro referenced is a pun on the play/movie titled "{{w|M. Butterfly}}". The butterfly programmer saying "Dammit, Emacs" plays on Emacs' notoriety for its kitchen sink design approach of tossing in all the features and options that anybody might ever conceivably want. By way of example, later versions of Emacs actually added a totally useless "M-x butterfly" command as an easter egg, in reference to this very comic: see the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQtxhuX6ano YouTube demo] and [http://www.screenr.com/a2s screenr demo]. | ||
The title text further suggests manipulating the {{w|Physical constant|universal constants}} in order to create a universe in which the required computer data will exist. Programming of this sort would require power and knowledge akin to the Abrahamic God. | The title text further suggests manipulating the {{w|Physical constant|universal constants}} in order to create a universe in which the required computer data will exist. Programming of this sort would require power and knowledge akin to the Abrahamic God. | ||
− | According to the logic, the programmers shown may even represent the fulfillment of this master | + | According to the logic, the programmers shown may even represent the fulfillment of this master programmers plan. The universe may have been designed in such a way that the programmers ancestry would result in his parents, who would meet and have a child, who would learn programming and eventually find himself in a position where he undertakes the task of creating a program, which fills the disk with the desired data. In tandem, of course, all of the people involved with creating and developing all the required hardware, software, raw materials, computer science, electricity, logic (etc., etc., etc.) would have to be part of the master plan. Put simply, it would probably be simpler just to use Emacs. |
The use of a magnetized needle may also be a reference to the {{w|Apollo Guidance Computer|Apollo AGC guidance computer}}, whose instructions were physically written as patterns of wires looped around or through cylindrical magnets in order to record binary code. | The use of a magnetized needle may also be a reference to the {{w|Apollo Guidance Computer|Apollo AGC guidance computer}}, whose instructions were physically written as patterns of wires looped around or through cylindrical magnets in order to record binary code. | ||
− | This comic hints at the "{{w|editor wars}}, | + | This comic hints at the "{{w|editor wars}}", an ongoing debate of Vim and Emacs users over which of the two editors is the best. The editor wars are mentioned again in [[1823: Hottest Editors]]. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[A Cueball | + | :[A Cueball like man sits at a computer, programming. Cueball stands behind him and looks over his shoulder.] |
:Cueball: <code>nano</code>? Real Programmers use <code>emacs</code>. | :Cueball: <code>nano</code>? Real Programmers use <code>emacs</code>. | ||
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:Megan: Hey. <u>Real</u> Programmers use <code>vim</code>. | :Megan: Hey. <u>Real</u> Programmers use <code>vim</code>. | ||
− | :[A second Cueball | + | :[A second Cueball like man appears behind her.] |
:Ed Cueball: Well, <u>Real</u> Programmers use <code>ed</code>. | :Ed Cueball: Well, <u>Real</u> Programmers use <code>ed</code>. | ||
− | :[A third Cueball | + | :[A third Cueball like man appears behind him.] |
:Cat Cueball: No, Real Programmers use <code>cat</code>. | :Cat Cueball: No, Real Programmers use <code>cat</code>. | ||
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:Hairbun: <u>Real</u> Programmers use a magnetized needle and a steady hand. | :Hairbun: <u>Real</u> Programmers use a magnetized needle and a steady hand. | ||
− | :[A fourth Cueball | + | :[A fourth Cueball like man enters, facing them all. We see him facing the last two Cueball like men and Hairbun.] |
:Butterfly Cueball: Excuse me, but <u>Real</u> Programmers use butterflies. | :Butterfly Cueball: Excuse me, but <u>Real</u> Programmers use butterflies. | ||
− | :[A Cueball | + | :[A Cueball like programmer is standing and holding out a butterfly in front of his computer. The butterfly flaps its wings.] |
− | :Butterfly Cueball ( | + | :Butterfly Cueball (narrating off-screen): They open their hands and let the delicate wings flap once. |
− | :[The next two panels are smaller | + | :[The next two panels are smaller and the two texts below are written uninterrupted respectively above and below both panels. The first panel is the Cueball like programmer with the butterfly, and above him four curved arrows pointing up or down. The second panel shows the upper atmosphere, with large clouds far below and the earth even further down. Also here are shown seven of the same type of arrows.] |
− | :Butterfly Cueball ( | + | :Butterfly Cueball (narrating off-screen): The disturbances ripple outward, changing the flow of the eddy currents in the upper atmosphere. |
− | :Butterfly Cueball ( | + | :Butterfly Cueball (narrating off-screen): These cause momentary pockets of higher-pressure air to form, |
− | :[ | + | :[Also the next two panels are smaller and the texts below are written uninterrupted above both panels. The first panel shows the atmosphere, again with clouds, and four parallel lines coming from above, and then they begin to merge, getting quite close at the bottom of the panel. The second panel shows the four lines merging on a driver platter.] |
− | :Butterfly Cueball ( | + | :Butterfly Cueball (narrating off-screen): Which act as lenses that deflect incoming cosmic rays, focusing them to strike the drive platter and flip the desired bit. |
− | :[All the programmers who | + | :[All the programmers who has commented so far stands in the order they have commented facing the last Cueball like man who slaps his forehead.] |
− | :Cueball: Nice. 'Course, there's an | + | :Cueball: Nice. 'Course, there's an Emacs command to do that. |
− | :Cat Cueball: Oh yeah! Good ol' | + | :Cat Cueball: Oh yeah! Good ol' C-x M-c M-butterfly... |
:Butterfly Cueball: Dammit, Emacs. | :Butterfly Cueball: Dammit, Emacs. | ||
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[[Category:Physics]] | [[Category:Physics]] | ||
[[Category:Rankings]] | [[Category:Rankings]] | ||
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