
The Tao of Programming Translated by Geoffrey James

BOOK 1 The Silent Void

Thus spake the Master Programmer:

"When you have learned to snatch the error code from the trap frame,
it will be time for you to leave."
1.1
Something mysterious is formed, born in the silent void. waiting
alone and unmoving, it is at once still and yet in constant motion.
It is the source of all programs. I do not know its name, so I will
call it the Tao of Programming.

    If the Tao is great, then the operating system is great.  If the
    operating system is great, then the compiler is great.  If the
    compiler is great, then the application is great.  The user is
    pleased, and there is harmony in the world.

The Tao of Programming flows far away and returns on the wind of
morning.
1.2
The Tao gave birth to machine language. Machine language gave birth
to the assembler.

The assembler gave birth to the compiler. Now there are ten thousand
languages.

Each language has its purpose, however humble. Each language
expresses the Yin and Yang of software. Each language has its place
within the Tao.

But do not program in COBOL if you can avoid it.
1.3
In the beginning was the Tao. The Tao gave birth to Space and Time.

Therefore Space and Time are the Yin and Yang of programming.

Programmers that do not comprehend the Tao are always running out of
time and space for their programs. Programmers that comprehend the
Tao always have enough time and space to accomplish their goals.

How could it be otherwise?
1.4
The wise programmer is told about Tao and follows it. The average
programmer is told about Tao and searches for it. The foolish
programmer is told about Tao and laughs at it.

If it were not for laughter, there would be no Tao.

The highest sounds are hardest to hear. Going forward is a way to
retreat. Great talent shows itself late in life. Even a perfect
program still has bugs.
BOOK 2 The Ancient Masters

Thus spake the Master Programmer:

"After three days without programming, life becomes meaningless."
2.1
The programmers of old were mysterious and profound. We cannot
fathom their thoughts, so all we do is describe their appearance.

    Aware, like a fox crossing the water.  Alert, like a general on
    the battlefield.  Kind, like a hostess greeting her guests.
    Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood.  Opaque, like black pools
    in darkened caves.

Who can tell the secrets of their hearts and minds?

The answer exists only in Tao.
2.2
The Grand Master Turing once dreamed that he was a machine. When he
awoke, he exclaimed:

"I don't know whether I am Turing dreaming that I am a machine, or a
machine dreaming that I am Turing!"
2.3
A programmer from a very large computer company went to a software
conference and then returned to report to his manager, saying: "What
sort of programmers work for other companies? They behaved badly and
were unconcerned with appearances. Their hair was long and unkempt
and their clothes were wrinkled and old. They crashed our
hospitality suite and they made rude noises during my presentation."

The manager said: "I should have never sent you to the conference.
Those programmers live beyond the physical world. They consider life
absurd, an accidental coincidence. They come and go without knowing
limitations. Without a care, they live only for their programs. Why
should they bother with social conventions?

They are alive within the Tao."
2.4
A novice asked the Master: "Here is a programmer that never designs,
documents or tests his programs. Yet all who know him consider him
one of the best programmers in the world. Why is this?"

The Master replied: "That programmer has mastered the Tao. He has
gone beyond the need for design; he does not become angry when the
system crashes, but accepts the universe without concern. He has
gone beyond the need for documentation; he no longer cares if anyone
else sees his code. He has gone beyond the need for testing; each of
his programs are perfect within themselves, serene and elegant,
their purpose self-evident. Truly, he has entered the mystery of
Tao."
BOOK 3 Design

Thus spake the Master Programmer:

"When a program is being tested, it is too late to make design
changes."
3.1
There once was a man who went to a computer trade show. Each day as
he entered, the man told the guard at the door:

"I am a great thief, renowned for my feats of shoplifting. Be
forewarned, for this trade show shall not escape unplundered."

This speech disturbed the guard greatly, because there were millions
of dollars of computer equipment inside, so he watched the man
carefully. But the man merely wandered from booth to booth, humming
quietly to himself.

When the man left, the guard took him aside and searched his
clothes, but nothing was to be found.

On the next day of the trade show, the man returned and chided the
guard, saying: "I escaped with a vast booty yesterday, but today
will be even better." So the guard watched him ever more closely,
but to no avail.

On the final day of the trade show, the guard could restrain his
curiosity no longer. "Sir Thief," he said, "I am so perplexed, I
cannot live in peace. Please enlighten me. What is it that you are
stealing?"

The man smiled. "I am stealing ideas," he said.
3.2
There once was a Master Programmer who wrote unstructured programs.
A novice programmer, seeking to imitate him, also began to write
unstructured programs. When the novice asked the Master to evaluate
his progress, the Master criticized him for writing unstructured
programs, saying, "What is appropriate for the Master is not
appropriate for the novice. You must understand Tao before
transcending structure."
3.3
There was once a programmer who was attached to the court of the
warlord of Wu. The warlord asked the programmer: "Which is easier to
design: an accounting package or an operating system?"

"An operating system," replied the programmer.

The warlord uttered an exclamation of disbelief. "Surely an
accounting package is trivial next to the complexity of an operating
system," he said.

"Not so," said the programmer, "When designing an accounting
package, the programmer operates as a mediator between people having
different ideas: how it must operate, how its reports must appear,
and how it must conform to the tax laws. By contrast, an operating
system is not limited by outside appearances. When designing an
operating system, the programmer seeks the simplest harmony between
machine and ideas. This is why an operating system is easier to
design."

The warlord of Wu nodded and smiled. "That is all good and well, but
which is easier to debug?"

The programmer made no reply.
3.4
A manager went to the Master Programmer and showed him the
requirements document for a new application. The manager asked the
Master: "How long will it take to design this system if I assign
five programmers to it?"

"It will take one year," said the Master promptly.

"But we need this system immediately or even sooner! How long will
it take if I assign ten programmers to it?"

The Master Programmer frowned. "In that case, it will take two
years."

"And what if I assign a hundred programmers to it?"

The Master Programmer shrugged. "Then the design will never be
completed," he said.
BOOK 4 Coding

Thus spake the Master Programmer:

"A well-written program is its own Heaven; a poorly-written program
is its own Hell."
4.1
A program should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like
a string of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should be
retained throughout. There should be neither too little nor too
much. Neither needless loops nor useless variables; neither lack of
structure nor overwhelming rigidity.

A program should follow the "Law of Least Astonishment". What is
this law? It is simply that the program should always respond to the
users in the way that least astonishes them.

A program, no matter how complex, should act as a single unit. The
program should be directed by the logic within rather than by
outward appearances.

If the program fails in these requirements, it will be in a state of
disorder and confusion. The only way to correct this is to rewrite
the program.
4.2
A novice asked the Master: "I have a program that sometimes runs and
sometimes aborts. I have followed the rules of programming, yet I am
totally baffled. What is the reason for this?"

The Master replied: "You are confused because you do not understand
Tao. Only a fool expects rational behavior from his fellow humans.
Why do you expect it from a machine that humans have constructed?
Computers simulate determinism; only Tao is perfect.

The rules of programming are transitory; only Tao is eternal.
Therefore, you must contemplate Tao before you receive
Enlightenment."

"But how will I know when I have received Enlightenment?" asked the
novice.

"Your program will run correctly," replied the Master.
4.3
The Master was explaining the nature of Tao to one of his novices.

"The Tao is embodied in all software -- regardless of how
insignificant," said the Master.

"Is the Tao in a hand-held calculator?" asked the novice.

"It is," came the reply.

"Is the Tao in a video game?" asked the novice.

"It is even in a video game," said the Master.

"Is the Tao in the DOS for a personal computer?" asked the novice.

The Master coughed and shifted his position slightly. "The lesson is
over for today," he said.
4.4
Prince Wang's programmer was coding software. His fingers danced
upon the keyboard. The program compiled without and error message,
and the program ran like a gentle wind.

"Excellent!" the Prince exclaimed. "Your technique is faultless!"

"Technique?" said the programmer, turning from his terminal, "What I
follow is Tao -- beyond all techniques! When I first began to
program, I would see before me the whole problem in one mass. After
three years, I no longer saw this mass. Instead, I used subroutines.
But now I see nothing. My whole being exists in a formless void. My
senses are idle. My spirit, free to work without 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 and let the joy of the work fill my being. I
close my eyes for a moment and then log off."

Prince Wang said, "Would that all of my programmers were as wise!"
BOOK 5 Maintenance

Thus spake the Master Programmer:

"Though a program be but three lines long, someday it will have to
be maintained."
5.1
    A well-used door needs no oil on its hinges.  A swift-flowing
    stream does not grow stagnant.  A deer blends perfectly into the
    forest colors.  Software rots if not used.

These are great mysteries.
5.2
A manager asked a programmer how long it would take him to finish
the program on which he was working. "I will be finished tomorrow,"
the programmer promptly replied.

"I think you are being unrealistic," said the manager, "Truthfully,
how long will it take?"

The programmer thought for a moment. "I have some features that I
wish to add. This will take at least two weeks," he finally said.

"Even that is too much to expect," insisted the manager, "I will be
satisfied if you simply tell me when the program is complete."

The programmer agreed to this.

Several years later, the manager retired. On the way to his
retirement luncheon, he discovered the programmer asleep at his
terminal. He had been programming all night.
5.3
A novice programmer was once assigned to code a simple financial
package.

The novice worked furiously for many days, but when his Master
reviewed his program, he discovered it contained a screen editor, a
set of generalized graphics routines, and an artificial intelligence
interface, but not the slightest hint of anything financial.

When the Master asked about this, the novice became indignant.
"Don't be so impatient," he said, "I'll put in the financial stuff
eventually."
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?
BOOK 6 Management

Thus spake the Master Programmer:

"Let the programmers be many and the managers few -- then all will
be productive."
6.1
    When managers hold endless meetings, the programmers write
    games.  When accountants speak of quarterly profits, the
    development budget is about to be cut.  When senior scientists
    talk blue sky, the clouds are about to roll in.

Truly, this is not the Tao of Programming.

    When managers make commitments, game programs are ignored.  When
    accountants make long-range plans, harmony and order are about
    to be restored.  When senior scientists address the problems at
    hand, the problems will soon be solved.

Truly, this is the Tao of Programming.
6.2
    Why are programmers non-productive? Because their time is wasted
    in meetings.  Why are programmers rebellious? Because the
    management interferes too much.  Why are the programmers
    resigning one by one? Because they are burnt out.  Having worked
    for poor management, they no longer value their jobs.
6.3
A manager was about to be fired, but a programmer who worked for him
wrote a new program that became popular and sold well. As a result,
the manager retained his job.

The manager tried to give the programmer a bonus, but the programmer
refused it, saying, "I wrote the program because I thought it was an
interesting concept, and thus I expect no reward."

The manager upon hearing this remarked, "This programmer, though he
holds a position of small esteem, understands well the proper duty
of an employee. Let us promote him to the exalted position of
management consultant!"

But when told this, the programmer once more refused, saying, "I
exist so that 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 am
working on."
6.4
A manager went to his programmers and told them: "As regards to your
work hours: you are going to have to come in at nine in the morning
and leave at five in the afternoon." At this, all of them became
angry and several resigned on the spot.

So the manager said: "All right, in that case you may set your own
working hours, as long as you finish your projects on schedule." The
programmers, now satisfied, began to come in at noon and work to the
wee hours of the morning.
BOOK 7 Corporate Wisdom

Thus spake the Master Programmer:

"You can demonstrate a program for a corporate executive, but you
can't make him computer literate."
7.1
A novice asked the Master: "In the East, there is a great
tree-structure that men call 'Corporate Headquarters'. It is bloated
out of shape with vice presidents and accountants. It issues a
multitude of memos, each saying 'Go Hence!' or 'Go Hither!' and
nobody knows what is meant. Every year new names are put onto the
branches, but all to no avail. How can such an unnatural entity
exist?"

The Master replied: "You perceive this immense structure and are
disturbed that it has no rational purpose. Can you not take
amusement from its endless gyrations? Do you not enjoy the
untroubled ease of programming beneath its sheltering branches? Why
are you bothered by its uselessness?"
7.2
In the East there is a shark which is larger than all other fish. It
changes into a bird whose wings are like clouds filling the sky.
When this bird moves across the land, it brings a message from
Corporate Headquarters. This message it drops into the midst of the
programmers, like a seagull making its mark upon the beach. Then the
bird mounts on the wind and, with the blue sky at its back, returns
home.

The novice programmer stares in wonder at the bird, for he
understands it not. The average programmer dreads the coming of the
bird, for he fears its message. The Master Programmer continues to
work at his terminal, unaware that the bird has come and gone.
7.3
The Magician of the Ivory Tower brought his latest invention for the
Master Programmer to examine. The Magician wheeled a large black box
into the Master's office while the Master waited in silence.

"This is an integrated, distributed, general-purpose workstation,"
began the Magician, "ergonomically designed with a proprietary
operating system, sixth generation languages, and multiple state of
the art user interfaces. It took my assistants several hundred man
years to construct. Is it not amazing?"

The Master Programmer raised his eyebrows slightly. "It is indeed
amazing," he said.

"Corporate Headquarters has commanded," continued the Magician,
"that everyone use this workstation as a platform for new programs.
Do you agree to this?"

"Certainly," replied the Master. "I will have it transported to the
Data Center immediately!" And the Magician returned to his tower,
well pleased.

Several days later, a novice wandered into the office of the Master
Programmer and said, "I cannot find the listing for my new program.
Do you know where it might be?"

"Yes," replied the Master, "the listings are stacked on the platform
in the Data Center."
7.4
The Master Programmer moves from program to program without fear. No
change in management can harm him. He will not be fired, even if the
project is cancelled. Why is this? He is filled with Tao.
BOOK 8 Hardware and Software

Thus spake the Master Programmer:

"Without the wind, the grass does not move. Without software
hardware is useless."
8.1
A novice asked the Master: "I perceive that one computer company is
much larger than all others. It towers above its competition like a
giant among dwarfs. Any one of its divisions could comprise an
entire business. Why is this so?"

The Master replied, "Why do you ask such foolish questions? That
company is large because it is large. If it only made hardware,
nobody would buy it. If it only made software, nobody would use it.
If it only maintained systems, people would treat it like a servant.
But because it combines all of these things, people think it one of
the gods! By not seeking to strive, it conquers without effort."
8.2
A Master Programmer passed a novice programmer one day.

The Master noted the novice's preoccupation with a hand-held
computer game.

"Excuse me," he said, "may I examine it?"

The novice bolted to attention and handed the device to the Master.
"I see that the device claims to have three levels of play: Easy,
Medium, and Hard," said the Master. "Yet every such device has
another level of play, where the device seeks not to conquer the
human, nor to be conquered by the human."

"Pray, Great Master," implored the novice, "how does one find this
mysterious setting?"

The Master dropped the device to the ground and crushed it with his
heel. Suddenly the novice was enlightened.
8.3
There was once a programmer who wrote software for personal
computers. "Look at how well off I am here," he said to a mainframe
programmer who came to visit. "I have my own operating system and
file storage device. I do not have to share my resources with
anyone. The software is self-consistent and easy-to-use. Why do you
not quit your present job and join me here?"

The mainframe programmer then began to describe his system to his
friend, saying, "The mainframe sits like an ancient Sage meditating
in the midst of the Data Center. Its disk drives lie end-to- end
like a great ocean of machinery. The software is as multifaceted as
a diamond, and as convoluted as a primeval jungle. The programs,
each unique, move through the system like a swift-flowing river.
That is why I am happy where I am."

The personal computer programmer, upon hearing this, fell silent.
But the two programmers remained friends until the end of their
days.
8.4
Hardware met Software on the road to Changtse. Software said: "You
are Yin and I am Yang. If we travel together, we will become famous
and earn vast sums of money." And so they set forth together,
thinking to conquer the world.

Presently, they met Firmware, who was dressed in tattered rags and
hobbled along propped on a thorny stick. Firmware said to them: "The
Tao lies beyond Yin and Yang. It is silent and still as a pool of
water. It does not seek fame; therefore, nobody knows its presence.
It does not seek fortune, for it is complete within itself. It
exists beyond space and time."

Software and Hardware, ashamed, returned to their homes.
BOOK 9 Epilogue

Thus spake the Master Programmer:

"Time for you to leave."
(II, 9)
A corporate executive came to visit the development center. Like a
general reviewing his troops, he walked the long corridors, stopping
here and there to talk with the people that he met. Eventually, he
wandered into the office of a programmer, who as it happened was
deep in concentration, debugging the operating system.

The executive glanced about the room and noticed a statue of a pig
that was perched upon the programmers terminal. "I have always been
fascinated by the curios and mementos that programmers collect,
"said the executive, "they always seem to have some interesting tale
behind them. For example, what is the meaning of that sculpture
there?" He pointed at the statue.

The programmer looked up from his terminal, blinked, and then stared
at the statue as if he were seeing it for the first time. "It's a
pig," he said.
(III, 2)
The greatest mistake made in Computer/Human interface is the denial
of the computer. Systems that are backfitted to previous conceptions
of the universe are always limited by what has gone before.
Computers should not simulate reality - they should transcend it.
(III, 4)
Never make a technical decision based upon the politics of the
situation. Never make a political decision based upon technical
issues. The only place where these realms meet is in the minds of
the unenlightened.
(III, 7)
This is the meaning of the famous parable about Master Ninjei - he
could not teach the secret of leadership because his would-be
students believed too strongly in the myth of their own power. When
an organization is led well, the employees do not even know that
they are being led. When the project is finished, they say to
themselves: "look at what we have accomplished by our own efforts!"
(III, 8)
The worth of a program cannot be judged by the size of its brochures
or by the number of full page adds that appear in popular computer
magazines. The louder the noise, the less likely it is that the
program will be useful. Truly excellent programs need no
advertising; word of mouth is sufficient.
(IV, 2)
Thus spake the master: "Any program no matter how small, contains
bugs."

The novice did not believe the masters words. "What if the program
were so small that it performed but a single function?" he asked.

"Such a program would have no meaning," said the master, "but if
such a one existed, the operating system would fail eventually,
producing a bug."

But the novice was not satisfied. "What if the operating system did
not fail?" he asked.

"There is no operating system that does not fail," said the master,
"but if such a one existed, the hardware would fail eventually,
producing a bug."

The novice was still not satisfied. "What if the hardware did not
fail?" he asked.

The master gave a great sigh. "There is no hardware that does not
fail," he said, "but if such a one existed the user would want the
program to do something different, and this too is a bug.

A program without bugs would be an absurdity, a nonesuch. If there
were a program without any bugs the world would cease to exist."
(IV, 3)
There are legends to the effect that the Ivory Tower was manned by a
legion of fanatical devotees who were persuaded to commit software
piracy, murder, and various unethical acts in return for machine
time on a Cray-2.
(V, 2)
I programmed three days
And heard no human voices
But the hard disk sang.
(V, 5)
I programmed all night.
Through the window, on my screen,
The rising sun shined.
(V, 9)
The computer center is empty,
Silent except for the whine of the cooling fans.
I walk the rows of CPUs,
My skin prickling with magnetic flux.
I open a door, cold and hard,
And watch the lights dancing on the panels.
A machine without soul, men call it,
But its soul is the sweat of my comrades,
Within it lie the years of our lives,
Disappointment, friendship, sadness, joy,
The algorithmic exaltations,
The long nights filled with thankless toil,
I hear the echoes of sighs and laughter,
And in the darkened offices
The terminals shine like stars.
Computer Parables By Geoffrey James, 1989.
(I, 10) The Diagram.
The master programmer asked a novice programmer to draw a picture of
a computer system. First the novice drew a picture of the software,
but that did not show the hardware. Then he drew a picture of the
hardware, but that did not show the users. Then he drew a picture of
the users, but that did not show the purpose. Then he drew a picture
of the purpose, but that did not show the software. Finally he gave
up in disgust, saying to the master: "That system is too complex for
any one diagram. It cannot be understood all at the same time."

The master, hearing this, laughed for a moment and then began to
weep. When asked why, he replied: "You think that the computer
system is complex, but it is less than a single nangate compared to
a grasshopper's eye. How much more complex are the systems of the
Earth by which Life is maintained. And the Earth herself is but a
single planet among the billions of worlds of space."

The novice said: "I still don't understand why you laugh and cry at
the same time."

"Is it not obvious? Here we are, ready to go to war because of the
difference between capitalism and communism. Consider - economic
theories are, at best, incomplete diagrams of an insignificant
aspect of a vast and incomprehensible universe. And yet some men are
willing to destroy the Earth because they disagree on some abstract
point of doctrine. Is this not worthy of laughter, is this not
worthy of tears?"
(II, 3) Two Old Men.
Two old men were sitting on a park bench, talking of old times.

"When I was a young man," the first said, "I was in the Navy and had
a girl in every port. When I grew older, I was a salesman and had a
girl in every town. When I grew to middle age, I bought the services
of many a beautiful prostitute. Now I am filled with sorrow that I
soon will die and never again taste the delights of a woman's
flesh."

"My life has been different," the second said, "When we first
married, my wife and I made love twice an evening, lost in the
passion of a first love. As we grew older, we made love less often,
but each caress was filled with lingering delight. When we grew to
middle age, we made love seldom, but it was as if our souls had
become a single being. Now I am filled with joy that I shall love
her through the endless eons of Death."

[another quote:
If you want endless repetition, be with a lot of people;
If you want infinite variety, be with only one.]
(II, 6) The Onboard System.
There was once a warship equipped with a sophisticated computer. One
day, the ship shot down an airliner. A representative of the navy
said: "Our system is too advanced to make mistakes. Even though the
system had never been tested, it was not the system that erred - it
was one of the junior officers."

A programmer heard this and could not believe his ears. "Just so
might a murderer say, "I am blameless, for it was not I who slew,
but my hand.' A computer system consists of three parts: the
hardware, the software, and the human. If the human errs, the system
has failed."
(III, 1) Two Students.
There was once a student who in his free time dressed in the armored
battlegear of old. Then he would gather with others of like mind and
together they would imitate the lords and ladies of ancient days.

A second student, a computer science major (as it happened), asked
the first student why he went about in fancy dress. The first
student replied: "The twentieth century is bland and colorless. You
spend your hours amidst cold machines. I seek the beauty and romance
of past times."

The computer science major chuckled softly and led the first student
into the data center. "Here are the machines that you despise. Are
they not as bright as swords? Are they not safe within their armored
metal casings? In three hundred years, children will pretend they
are the computer scientists of old."
(III, 5) The Working Father.
A child was learning about computer graphics at school. When he came
home he discovered his father typing away at a portable computer.
"What are you doing?" asked the child.

The father didn't want to be disturbed. "I'm working!" he barked.

The child stared crestfallen at the floor. "I didn't know you could
use a computer for work," he said.
(III, 7) The Electronic Mail System {Flame Wars}.
An executive, thinking to make his staff more productive, installed
an electronic mail system.

Two weeks later, he had the system disabled. When asked why, the
executive said: "Whenever a small disagreement occurred between two
employees, the first would send a mail message. The second would
read it, write a response, and send a copy to his manager. The first
employee would write yet another response and copy the entire
building. Soon messages were buzzing about the building like a swarm
of frightened hornets. Nobody was getting any work done. When my
employees are mature enough to deal with the new technology, I will
let them use the electronic mail system again." 
(IV, 2) Two Artists.
Two artists were speaking to one another about their craft.

"I make my own pigments," said the first, "I dig minerals from the
earth and pound them into powder. I mix it with my spit and save it
in a clay pot. When I paint, I use the bark of trees that I felled
with my own axe. When I finish a work of art, I know that it is
mine."

"I write my own graphics programs," said the second, "I salvage
subroutines and algorithms from dusty stacks of magazines. I shape
my curves with mathematical formulæ that I have entered on my own
keyboard. When I finish a work of art, I know that it is mine."
(IV, 4) Two Computer Users.
In an office there were two computer users. The first user said: "I
cannot bear this machine a moment longer. When I enter a command it
does not obey. First it acts in one way and then in another. Truly I
think it hates me, because it always seems to break when I need it
most."

The second user said: "I sit before my computer like a king upon his
throne. I issue a command and wait in silence to see what happens.
When my wishes are fulfilled, I am pleased. When my wishes are
thwarted, I try a different command. I treat my computer as a slave;
I do not expect it to be as wise as myself."
(IV, 7) The Programmer's Wife.
There was once a programmer who invented many things, but his ideas
were always stolen. The programmer's wife became exasperated and
asked: "Why do you never take credit for your ideas?"

The programmer blinked as if awakening from a dream. Then he said:
"When I am programming, I am at a nexus. My thoughts become
concrete. My ideas transform illusion into reality. The structure of
existence is remade before my very eyes. I become a vessel for the
creative force of the universe. I am carried aloft as if on the
wings of dragons. Why should I care if nobody knows my name?"
(IV, 11) The Sages.
The great sages of history descended from heaven to search for a
worthy successor. They immediately fell to arguing about the kind of
man they should seek.

Buddha, sitting cross legged beneath a tree, said: "Of a certainty,
we must look for a monk. Only a monk can understand the transitory
nature of the universe."

Confucius stroked his thin beard. "Monks are concerned only with
their own advancement. We should seek a politician, who can make
laws that will bring order to society."

Moses crossed his arms over his burly chest. "Politicians are ruled
by the love of power. Better that we seek a lawyer, who can
interpret the law."

Jesus gave a deep sigh. "Lawyers are often merciless. We should find
some great preacher who can educate the masses."

Mohammed's eyes flashed fire. "Talk! Always talk! We need a warrior
who will force holiness on mankind."

Lao Tse was standing to one side, taking no part in the argument.
The other sages appealed to him for a judgement. "What manner of man
should we seek?" they asked.

Lao Tse said nothing, but led them along a winding path.

The path became a road and the road became a highway. They
approached a city. Glaring lights and garish signs hid the horizon.
Wires crossed overhead like black webs. Automobiles sped past like
insane metal insects. The sages held their hands over their ears as
the harpy screams of jets broke through the brown and poisonous
clouds.

At last they came to a building. Within the building they saw a man
sitting before a computer screen.

The sages looked at Lao Tse in disbelief. "A programmer? Have you
gone mad?" they asked.

Lao Tse smiled. "Please look more closely. This man sees nothing but
the screen in front of him. Surrounded by his computers, he knows
only the reality that he has created and yet realizes that it is
only illusion. He has gone beyond technology; he has transcended the
machine."
