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Is a barista who adds a clever design to the foam of your coffee an artist? For most engineers, I think the answer is "no": we focus on functionality and effic

Is a barista who adds a clever design to the foam of your coffee an artist? For most engineers, I think the answer is "no": we focus on functionality and efficiency and while some of that may go towards the happiness of the end-user, what we build is generally not consumed directly by that end-user but rather the byproduct. But...there are cases where you observe a mechanism or piece of code that is not only efficient but beautiful in its simplicity. Perhaps laymen don't appreciate it, but fellow engineers can. I think that in such cases where the creator goes beyond "good enough" and makes an effort to elevate their creation to a point where peers can point to it and go "Yes! That is how to do it!", engineering can be art.

intoverflow2 10y ago
>Is a barista who adds a clever design to the foam of your coffee an artist? Depends if it was done with artistic intent (can't personally name an artist which has created a work in that medium but it is a medium so it is possible) or if it was done just as a clever foam design. Craft and art are not the same thing.
formula1 10y ago
The barista is in this case since she is allowed and chooses to add a personal touch. By not adding the personal touch its also a form of expression. Either way, the personal touch will have a direct effect on the enjoyability of the coffee. Personal touches in programming are rare and often bad. Going past "good enough" is rarely considered art as its done for code cleanliness or efficiency. I would never hire a programmer for funny comments. I might hire a battista for her art