Intimacy Of Coding
Hack:
I just got back from the iPhone DevCamp. Ah, what a great camp we had! 400 guys in one big room coding non-stop for two days.
Edsger:
400 people in the same place?
Hack:
Yes, it was amazing! You should try it one day!
Edsger:
I don’t think so. It’s not for me.
Hack:
It was so moving. A whole bunch of guys all being in sync, working on some crazy thing, trying that thing like this and like that, until someone finally screams : “Got it! Guys, look here!”. And those “Wow”, “Ah”, “Ooh” all around.
Edsger:
You know the best time I ever had was with my close friend. I remember, we just kept coding all night long. One was typing while another one stayed behind his back. We changed positions every hour or so.
Hack:
Two? Just two?
Edsger:
OK, I’ll be honest with you. I tried three once, but it was mostly chatting rather than doing stuff. I don’t think it counts.
Hack:
Listen, it’s decided, next camp we go together!
Edsger:
Oh, stop it, please.
Hack:
What? What is the problem?
Edsger:
There is a problem. You know, when other people watch, I can’t … you know … perform.
