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This principle is why many Lisp hackers fail to make good web sites or applications. Lisp programming can lead to days and weeks of fun programming, so that yo

by brlewis 19y ago

This principle is why many Lisp hackers fail to make good web sites or applications. Lisp programming can lead to days and weeks of fun programming, so that you break the chain of doing less-fun but important programming. Sometimes the improvement users want most involves non-fun programming. You really have to push yourself to implement it instead of procrastinating by coding something more fun but less desired.

willarson 19y ago
This doesn't have anything to do with Lisp. Depending on what they view as fulfilling, some people veer away from difficult problems regardless of the language they are writing in. Working in a "more fun" language like Lisp doesn't make you more likely to avoid doing hard work, nor does writing in a "less fun" language like Java increase your propensity to actually deal with the difficult segments. Its a matter of self-control, and is, unfortunately, an issue for programmers in every language.
- brlewis 19y ago
  I assert that a less fun language does increase your propensity to face up to unpleasant tasks. If your programming language makes facing up to unpleasant tasks a part of your daily routine, you won't "break the chain" by spending a day or a week where programming is all fun and games. I'm not saying that self-control (a.k.a. passion for doing the right thing) is not an issue if you use a less-fun language, I'm just saying that it becomes less of an issue.
dpapathanasiou 19y ago
It's a phenomena described in "The Bipolar Lisp Programmer" (http://www.lambdassociates.org/blog/bipolar.htm http://www.lambdassociates.org/blog/bipolar.htm).
- brlewis 19y ago
  No, that essay describes extraordinary people. I'm talking about something that affects ordinary people depending on what programming language they use.
menloparkbum 19y ago
Lisp hackers spend so much time various participating in flame wars they have neither the time nor energy to make a good web site, or application, change clothes, do the dishes, move out of the graduate dormitory, hold down a job, etc.

by brlewis 19y ago

willarson 19y ago

This doesn't have anything to do with Lisp. Depending on what they view as fulfilling, some people veer away from difficult problems regardless of the language they are writing in. Working in a "more fun" language like Lisp doesn't make you more likely to avoid doing hard work, nor does writing in a "less fun" language like Java increase your propensity to actually deal with the difficult segments. Its a matter of self-control, and is, unfortunately, an issue for programmers in every language.

brlewis 19y ago
I assert that a less fun language does increase your propensity to face up to unpleasant tasks. If your programming language makes facing up to unpleasant tasks a part of your daily routine, you won't "break the chain" by spending a day or a week where programming is all fun and games. I'm not saying that self-control (a.k.a. passion for doing the right thing) is not an issue if you use a less-fun language, I'm just saying that it becomes less of an issue.

dpapathanasiou 19y ago

It's a phenomena described in "The Bipolar Lisp Programmer" (http://www.lambdassociates.org/blog/bipolar.htm http://www.lambdassociates.org/blog/bipolar.htm).

brlewis 19y ago
No, that essay describes extraordinary people. I'm talking about something that affects ordinary people depending on what programming language they use.

menloparkbum 19y ago

Lisp hackers spend so much time various participating in flame wars they have neither the time nor energy to make a good web site, or application, change clothes, do the dishes, move out of the graduate dormitory, hold down a job, etc.