第二篇 古代的大師
Thus speak the master programmer:
"After three days without programming, life becomes meaningless."
編程大師如是說:
"倘若三天不編程, 生活將變得毫無意義."
2.1
The programmers of old were mysterious and profound. We cannot fathom their thoughts, so all we can 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 a uncarved blocks of wood.
Opaque, like black pools in darkened caves.
Who can tell the secrets of their hearts and mind?
The answer exists only in Tao.
老一輩的程序員是神秘的, 深奧的. 我們沒法揣摩他們的想法, 我們所能做的只是描述一下他們的表象.
他們是清醒的, 就像一只游過水面的狐狸;
他們是警惕的, 就像一位戰場上將軍;
他們是友善的, 就像一位招待客人的女主人;
他們是簡單的, 就像未經刻鑿的木頭;
他們還是難以琢磨的, 就像黑暗的洞穴中漆黑的池水.
誰能說出他們心中的秘密?
答案只存在於道中.
2.2
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!"
計算機科學巨擘圖靈曾經夢到他是一台機器.
當他醒來時, 他驚歎道:
"我不知道----我是夢到樂自己是台機器的圖靈, 還是一台夢到樂自己是圖靈的機器?"
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 computer companies? They behaved badly and were unconcerned with appearances. Their hair were long and unkempt and the clothes were wrinkled and old. They crashed our hospitality suite and they made rude noises during my presentation."
The manager said: "I should never sent you to the conference. Those programmers live beyond the physical world. They consider life absurd, and 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."
一家大公司的一名程序員參加樂一次軟件研討會. 他回來後向經理匯報說: "為其他公司工作的那些程序員都是些什麼樣的人啊? 他們行為拙劣, 不顧及自己的儀表. 他們的頭發又長又亂, 衣服有皺又舊. 他們闖進我們的會客組, 還在我演講時發出粗魯的喧鬧."
經理說: "我本不應該派你去參加這個會議, 那些程序員是生活在物質世界之外的. 他們認為生活是荒唐的, 只是一種意外的巧合. 他們來去自如. 他們只為他們的程序而活著, 無憂無慮的活著. 為什麼要用社會習俗來約束他們呢?
他們活在此道之中."
2.4
A novice asked the master: "Here is a programmer who never designs, documents, or tests his programs. Yet all who know him consider him the one of the best programmers in the world. Why is this?"
The master replied: "The 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 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."
一個初學者問大師: "有位程序員, 從不構思, 編寫文檔或測試他的程序, 然而所有知道他的人都認為他是世界上最棒的程序員. 這是為什麼呢? "
大師回答說: "那個人掌握樂道. 他不需要事先進行構思, 當系統崩潰時, 他不會因此而悶悶不樂, 而是心平氣和的接受整個事實. 他還從編寫程序說明文檔的需要之中超脫樂出來, 不在意是否有人看他的編碼.
他也不需要進行測試, 他的每個程序的內在都完美無缺, 寧靜而優雅, 程序的用途也顯而易見.
的的確確, 他已經進入樂道的神奇境界."
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