Three Kinds of Programmers

This was inspired by a post by Coding Horror blogger Jeff Atwood. He had many valuable things to say, including a post called Never Design What You Can Steal. I liked his idea about how we should "steal" code freely from each other.

I've long argued there are three kinds of programmers in this world (I'm the second one, by way of a pre-emptive strike):

1. I call the first class "script kiddies" just like the junior hackers are often known. I put in this group people who simply blindly steal code without any thought as to what it does, or why it does. They simply steal without a thought or a desire to attribute it.
2. I'm the second category, the "shade tree coders." We can't make a living writing code alone, even though we wish we could. We steal the code of the great ones, but we try to modify it to suit our own purposes. I'd like to think we gain an appreciation for what it does in that process. We attribute the source, and take credit for our modifications as appropriate.
3. The third category are the Jedi Masters. They simply smile at the rest of us, and say, "You're Welcome."

Thank you, Jedi Masters everywhere. I hope one day to join your ranks; until I do, I'll keep trying to perpetuate your legacy and be grateful for your gifts.

Until we meet again, be well. And be sure to thank a Jedi Master.