The connection between the language in which we think/program and the problems
and solutions we can imagine is very close. For this reason restricting
language features with the intent of eliminating programmer errors is at best
dangerous.
-- Bjarne Stroustrup
Zen and Perl
A modernized version of Takuan Soho's teachings:
You need to realize that when you practice from the state of
the beginner all the way to the stage of immutable wisdom,
then you must go back to the status of the beginner again.
Let me explain in terms of Perl. As a beginner
you know nothing of statements or regular
expressions, so you have
nothing in yourself to dwell on mentally. If someone
asks you to program, you just program
without thinking of anything.
Then, when you learn various things like packages,
how to wield
a regular expression, where to place your attention, and so on, your mind
lingers on various points, so you find yourself all tangled
up when you try to code.
But if you practice day after day and month after month,
eventually statements and structure don't
hang on your mind anymore,
and you are like a beginner who knows nothing.
> l
You are in a dim barn, with only a sprinkling of light making its way
through from the boards above. In the center of the room is a large
wooden chest which doesn't appear to be locked.
> open chest
You open the chest.
Inside the chest is:
A lantern.
A map.
A broken dagger.
> get map
You get the map.
> use map
You use a map in void context.
You have lost 50 hp.
You have DIED!
