The geeek writer who brought us “Why Nerds Are Unpopular, here is another good essay Hackers and Painters. As one who likes to compare and contrast to think through phenomena, I enjoyed this essay, although there are limits to his comparison as comparisons are well, of course, never a perfect match. S

o, for example, it is certainly the case that what programmers and hackers create has a strong aesthetic element (one of my main research interests). But while artists and hackers both can admire theit own work (and both prolly have deeper aesthetic understandings), computer programs have more of inner aesthetic that really only the creaters can experience from the aesthetic standpoint even if a user can think that a piece of software rocks.

Also, while I agree that hackers are not necessarily like mathematicians, his view of science as not being an “art” or being composef of makers I think is also up for debate. Science is completely oriented around making and practicality. It is just that it oriented towards forms of making that are profitable, which is what he objects to because it directs “the makers” away from creating through and by inner vision and pasion.

But if you write code, this is an interesting read whether it is how one learns, the need for empathy, and the fact that there are few institutions (and he includes the academy) that really support hacking, well except the open source project. Oh and finally, he views jobs and hacking as pretty antithetical:

“I think the answer to this problem, in the case of software, is a concept known to nearly all makers: the day job. This phrase began with musicians, who perform at night. More generally, it means that you have one kind of work you do for money, and another for love….”

I have talked to way too many hackers who have found a higher degree of satisfaction in their day job to make this comparison work although there are for sure many forms of dislike against the day job in the form of suits, ending projects, NDA’s, and in this current climate, the job market…. It will be interesting to see how the view towards day jobs among hackers will shift now that jobs are scarce and working conditions are not as fun and flexbile as before.