[转载]编程之道（the tao of programming）(2).txt

《编程之道》 高超的程序员并非致力于表面的成功

Price Wang's programmer was coding software. His fingers danced upon the key
board. The program compiled without an error message, and the program ran li
ke a gentle wind.
###编程大师编写软件时，手指在键盘上快速飞舞。程序编译时没有一条错误信息，程序
运行起来就象一阵微风吹过。
Excellent!" the Price exclaimed, "Your technique is faultless!"
太精彩了！你的技巧已经无可挑剔了。
"Technique?" said the programmer, turning from his terminal, "What I follow
is the Tao -- beyond all technique. When I first began to program I would se
e before me the whole program in one mass. After three years I no longer saw
 this mass. Instead, I used subroutines. But now I see nothing. My whole bei
ng exists in a formless void. My senses are idle. My spirit, free to work wi
thout a plan, follows its own instinct. In short, my program writes itself.
True, sometimes there are difficult problems. I see them coming, I slow down
, I watch silently. Then I change a single line of code and the difficulties
 vanish like puffs of idle smoke. I then compile the program. I sit still an
d let the joy of the work fill my being. I close my eyes for a moment and th
en log off."
“技巧？”，大师转过身说，“我所遵循的是道--它超乎所有的技巧。当我开始编程时
我看到的是整个一大块的程序，三年后我看到的是子过程。现在我什么也看不到了。我
的整个存在是没有任何形式的虚无。我感觉很悠闲，总之，事实上是我的程序自己在写
，有时我看到一些问题，我看到它们，就停下来静静地观察它们，然后我改变了一行代
码，难题就象一阵轻烟一样化为乌有。然后我编译程序。坐在那里享受工作的喜悦。闭
了一会眼睛然后退出系统。
Price Wang said, "Would that all of my programmers were as wise!"
“什么时候我的程序员才能都达到这样的境界!”
Mainteance
Book Five
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：
"Though a program be but three lines long, someday it will have to be mainta
ined."
“既使一个程序只有三行长，也总有一天需要去维护它”
5.1
A well-used door needs no oil on its hinges.
A swift-flowing steam does no grow stagnant.
Neither sound nor thoughts can travel through a vacuum.
Software rots if not used.
经常使用的门不需要往门轴里上油。
流动的东西就不会停滞不前。
流水不腐，户枢不蠹。--王磊
声音和思想都不能在真空里传播。
软件不用就会腐朽。
These are great mysteries.
5.2
A manager asked a programmer how long it would take him to finish the progra
m on which he was working. "I will be finished tomorrow," the programmer pro
mptly replied.
经理问程序员要多长时间才能完成他的项目。“明天”
"I think you are being unrealistic," said the manager. "Truthfully, how long
 will it take?"
“太不着边际了，老实说，要多久？”
The programmer thought for a moment. "I have some features that I wish to ad
d. This will take at least two weeks," he finally said.
程序员想了一想说。“还有一些新的功能要加进去，可能至少要两个星期吧。”
"Even that is too much to expect," insisted the manager, "I will be satisfie
d if you simply tell me when the program is complete."
“即使两个星期恐怕也太夸张了，什么时候你只要告诉我说程序已经完成就好了。”
The programmer agreed to this.
Several years slated, the manager retired. On the way to his retirement lunc
h, he discovered the programmer asleep at his terminal. He had been programm
ing all night.
几年后，这个经理已经退休了，在他的离职午餐上，他发现这些程序员在他的终端前睡
着了，他整夜都在编程。
5.3
A novice programmer was once assigned to code a simple financial package.
一个初学者被要求编写一个财务软件。
The novice worked furiously for many days, but when his master reviewed his
program, he discovered that it contained a screen editor, a set of generaliz
ed graphics routines, and artificial intelligence interface, but not the sli
ghtest mention of anything financial.
他疯狂地工作了很多天，但他的主管检视他的程序时发现，它写了一个编辑嚣，一个图
形程序集，和人工智能的界面，但是看不到任何跟财务有关的东西。
When the master asked about this, the novice became indignant. "Don't be so
impatient," he said, "I'll put the financial stuff in eventually."
主管要求解释时，程序员被激怒了：“你太没耐心了，我会在最后写财务的部分。”
5.4
Does a good farmer neglect a crop he has planted?
Does a good teacher overlook even the most humble student?
Does a good father allow a single child to starve?
Does a good programmer refuse to maintain his code?
一个好的农民不会不管他的庄稼。
一个好的老师不会不管哪怕是最差的学生。
一个好的父亲不会让他的任何一个孩子挨饿。
一个好的程序员不应拒绝维护他的程序。
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Management
Book Six
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：
"Let the programmer be many and the managers few -- then all will be product
ive."
“增加程序员，减少经理--这样他们都可提高效率。”
6.1
When managers hold endless meetings, the programmers write games. When accou
ntants talk of quarterly profits, the development budget is about to be cut.
 When senior scientists talk blue sky, the clouds are about to roll in.
经理们忙于无休无止的会议时，程序员们在写游戏。财务主管在谈论季度盈利时开发预
算将会被削减。当老科学家在谈天空的蓝色时，云团蜂拥而至。
Truly, this is not the Tao of Programming.
这不是编程之道。
When managers make commitments, game programs are ignored. When accountants
make long-range plans, harmony and order are about to be restored. When seni
or scientists address the problems at hand, the problems will soon be solved
.
经理分配任务时不会包括游戏，会计师做长期计划时，应该做到面面俱到，皆大欢喜。
科学家提出一个问题，就会很快得到解决。
Truly, this is the Tao of Programming.
这才是编程之道。
6.2
Why are programmers non-productive? Because their time is wasted in meetings
.
为什么程序员没有效率，因为他们把时间都浪费在开会上了。
Why are programmers rebellious? Because the management interferes too much.
为什么程序员难于管理？因为管理者的干预太多了。
Why are the programmers resigning one by one? Because they are burnt out.
为什么程序员一个接一个地辞职，因为他们累坏了。
Having worked for poor management, they no longer value their jobs.
在糟糕的管理下工作，他们享受不到工作的乐趣。
6.3
A manager was about to be fired, but a programmer who worked for him invente
d a new program that became popular and sold well. As a result, the manager
retained his job.
一个经理将被解雇，但他手下的一个程序员写了一个流行的软件并且销路很旺。所以经
理保住了他的工作。
The manager tried to give the programmer a bonus, but the programmer refused
 it, saying, "I wrote the program because I though it was an interesting con
cept, and thus I expect no reward."
经理为程序员分红，但程序员拒绝了，他说：“我写程序是因为写程序很有趣，所以我
并没想过得资金”。
The manager, upon hearing this, remarked, "This programmer, though he holds
a position of small esteem, understands well the proper duty of an employee.
 Lets promote him to the exalted position of management consultant!"
这位经理说，“这位程序员，不管他现在是什么位置，他都能理解一个雇员的职责所在
。我们要把他提升为管理顾问”。
But when told this, the programmer once more refused, saying, "I exist so th
at I can program. If I were promoted, I would do nothing but waste everyone'
s time. Can I go now? I have a program that I'm working one."
这位程序员又一次拒绝了，他说：“我是一个程序员所以我可以编程，如果我被提升了
，除了浪费别人的时间什么也做不了，现在我可以走了吗？我还有一个程序没写完。”
6.4
A manger went to his programmers and told them: "As regards to your work hou
rs: you are going to have to come in at nine in the morning and leave at fiv
e in the afternoon." At this, all of them became angry and several resigned
on the spot.
经理对程序员说，“你们的工作时间是早上9点到正午点。”，所有的程序员都很不满。
So the manager said: "All right, in that case you may set your own working h
ours, as long as you finish your projects on schedule." The programmers, now
 satisfied, began to come in a noon and work to the wee hours of the morning
.
经理又说：“好吧，那随你们的便，只要能按时完成任务。”，程序员们这下满意了，
他们中午上班，一直工作到凌晨。


--
玄奘抬起头来，望望天上白云变幻，说：
"我要这天，再遮不住我眼，要这地，再埋不了我心，要这众生，都明白我意，要那诸佛
，都烟消云散！"

※ 来源:·飘渺水云间 Freecity.dhs.org·[FROM: longman]