5 ms·

I agree with the title, but disagree with this: "When programming becomes repetitive, the odds of you creating something that makes people go “wow” are reduced

I agree with the title, but disagree with this: "When programming becomes repetitive, the odds of you creating something that makes people go “wow” are reduced quite a bit. It isn’t a rule, of course. You need to be inspired to make inspiring software." The purpose of software for other people is not to make them go 'wow'; it's to help them with their jobs to be done. That's it. The software is always in service to the job the user wants to get done. Can that make them go 'wow'? Sure, but you can't..aim for 'wow'. That's the wrong goal. As far as 'inspiration' goes, I'm with Stephen King: "Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work." For those that might disagree (hey, it's HN), I would ask: how do you know when 'wow' occurs? Here's a clue: 'wow' can only happen when something else occurs first. That 'something else' is described above.

robin_reala 10mo ago
That’s overly reductive. You’re making a CRUD app? Absolutely. You’re programming a new effect for a laser setup in a club? Less so.
- bandofthehawk 10mo ago
  Even in the case of a CRUD app, I think it's not bad to aim for a wow. Like "with this new feature, I'll no longer need to do x, y, and z repetitive tasks, great!"
9rx 10mo ago
> The purpose of software for other people is not to make them go 'wow'; it's to help them with their jobs to be done. Aside from where you've only duplicated something that already exists (in which case why bother?), what kind of software would you be able to create to help me do my job that wouldn't also make me go 'wow'? Any part of my job that I lack tools to help me with are the parts that seem impossible to have the tools for, so when you defy that understanding, 'wow' is inevitable.
- Yokohiii 10mo ago
  > Aside from where you've only duplicated something that already exists (in which case why bother?) If we had stopped reiterating on the wheel our cars would drive on wooden logs.
  - 9rx 10mo ago
    Of course, a wheel doesn't duplicate a wooden log. The wheel most certainly 'wow'-ed people when it was first introduced. But if you release a wheel today, same as any other wheel you can already buy, don't expect much fanfare.
    - Yokohiii 10mo ago
      My point (and that of the previous poster) is that "wow" isn't required as an initial property to do anything. Pretty sure the dude who made the first wheel just did something that was useful for him in that situation. He didn't think how he could do something to impress his peers. He maybe wasn't even aware he made the first wheel or something innovative. Also if I'd dive into how F1 wheels are made, I'd expect I learn stuff that is fascinating and far from boring.
      - 9rx 10mo ago
        The question asked — paraphrasing to include the context you have added — is how you could create something like a wheel, or a novel adaptation on the wheel like an F1 wheel, without sparking 'wow'? It just doesn't seem impossible. You may not come with the intent to create 'wow', but it is going to happen anyway.
        Yokohiii 10mo ago
        I am confused on your use of "duplicating". I think straight duplication is quite unlikely. You even say it's inevitable. Which is also confusing. Most code written is probably quite unremarkable, yet useful. Usefulness is a dominating factor, wow has a lot of depends.
BeetleB 10mo ago
I don't know what you are disagreeing with. Your thoughts are somewhat of a non-sequitur. > The purpose of software for other people is not to make them go 'wow' ... The software is always in service to the job the user wants to get done. Can that make them go 'wow'? Sure, but you can't..aim for 'wow'. That's the wrong goal. Did he say in his post that he's talking about software for other people? Is the only purpose of writing software to do so for others?

robin_reala 10mo ago

That’s overly reductive. You’re making a CRUD app? Absolutely. You’re programming a new effect for a laser setup in a club? Less so.

bandofthehawk 10mo ago
Even in the case of a CRUD app, I think it's not bad to aim for a wow. Like "with this new feature, I'll no longer need to do x, y, and z repetitive tasks, great!"

9rx 10mo ago

> The purpose of software for other people is not to make them go 'wow'; it's to help them with their jobs to be done. Aside from where you've only duplicated something that already exists (in which case why bother?), what kind of software would you be able to create to help me do my job that wouldn't also make me go 'wow'? Any part of my job that I lack tools to help me with are the parts that seem impossible to have the tools for, so when you defy that understanding, 'wow' is inevitable.

Yokohiii 10mo ago
> Aside from where you've only duplicated something that already exists (in which case why bother?) If we had stopped reiterating on the wheel our cars would drive on wooden logs.
- 9rx 10mo ago
  Of course, a wheel doesn't duplicate a wooden log. The wheel most certainly 'wow'-ed people when it was first introduced. But if you release a wheel today, same as any other wheel you can already buy, don't expect much fanfare.
  - Yokohiii 10mo ago
    My point (and that of the previous poster) is that "wow" isn't required as an initial property to do anything. Pretty sure the dude who made the first wheel just did something that was useful for him in that situation. He didn't think how he could do something to impress his peers. He maybe wasn't even aware he made the first wheel or something innovative. Also if I'd dive into how F1 wheels are made, I'd expect I learn stuff that is fascinating and far from boring.
    - 9rx 10mo ago
      The question asked — paraphrasing to include the context you have added — is how you could create something like a wheel, or a novel adaptation on the wheel like an F1 wheel, without sparking 'wow'? It just doesn't seem impossible. You may not come with the intent to create 'wow', but it is going to happen anyway.
      - Yokohiii 10mo ago
        I am confused on your use of "duplicating". I think straight duplication is quite unlikely. You even say it's inevitable. Which is also confusing. Most code written is probably quite unremarkable, yet useful. Usefulness is a dominating factor, wow has a lot of depends.

BeetleB 10mo ago

I don't know what you are disagreeing with. Your thoughts are somewhat of a non-sequitur. > The purpose of software for other people is not to make them go 'wow' ... The software is always in service to the job the user wants to get done. Can that make them go 'wow'? Sure, but you can't..aim for 'wow'. That's the wrong goal. Did he say in his post that he's talking about software for other people? Is the only purpose of writing software to do so for others?