It seems everyone these days wants to be famous. However the vast majority of them don’t want to do the work required to be famous for anything worthwhile. They want to be famous for, well, being famous. They want to be rock stars.
The programming world seems to have been taken over by this attitude, with an increasing number of job adverts looking for a “rock star” developers. But is that really what the web and business in general, needs? I’m not so sure.
Ron Evans at Dead Programmers Society compares rock stars to jazz musicians, and I think the parallels can be easily seen with developers. I like to think I have a bit of insight into this area, being both a developer and having a degree in jazz (yes, really).
There are three basic ways in which programming and being a jazz player are similar:
The great thing about being a jazz player is the more you know the more you know you have to learn. The tough thing about being a jazz player is the more you know the more you know you have to learn. It’s the same with programming – there is no end to learning because programming, like music, is not a static thing. It changes, evolves, continually and you have to keep up if you want to succeed.
The great thing about being a jazz player is there are few rules. The tough thing about being a jazz player is there are few rules. Just like programming, the rules you follow are reasonably simple at heart. In jazz if you break the rules it doesn’t sound right; in programming if you break the rules then the application doesn’t compile. But even within those rules there is huge freedom of expression, a thousand ways to say/do the same thing.
The great thing about being a jazz player is the fact you can play “off” other people. The tough thing about being a jazz player is the fact you can play “off” other people. I work in a team of 6 developers, we all have our own styles and experience. We all share the strengths we have, and we create good stuff. Just like a band who gig together regularly, there’s an appreciation there of each other – even if we sometimes disagree about some things.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the many fantastically talented and graciously generous people around the web who have shared code, understanding and insight with the world. So too I owe a huge debt of gratitude to those people who through their music have shared much that is both tangible and ethereal with the world.
This entry is in memory of the late, great Oscar Peterson. Rest in peace, Oscar.
My stepdad was a lecturer at Leeds college of music, and a clever jazz musician…. I understand where you’re coming from with this post… I think the analogy goes beyond programming and into all things “teamwork” though…..
We can all blame xfactor…. big brother….. and all them other make me an instant celebrity type shows…. just add lukewarm applause!!
FoX
In this web 2.0 generation of the “we want it now” society, podcasts and blogs are making rock stars of us all. And like all good groupies we suffer from being just a little star struck.
Take myself for example, working with djs and managing a few I have had the chance to meet famous djs I have admired as a young clubber, and also work with brands that I have worshipped as a dj myself (DJ Mag for example).
As a programmer I don’t pretend I’m amazing or all knowing. I learn what I need to on the fly, I bug test like a mad man, and after working for a company keeping there web based training systems safe, I’m a crazy when it comes to security.
My background is in music and percussion. I learnt the drums by copying drum patterns on popular music. I learnt the keyboard in much the same way, and then I adapted it, improved it and made my own style.
I also take this approach with coding sometimes. I look how other people have solve a problem, then adapt it and improve it in some places to meet my needs. I don’t claim the code as my own just a revision of the original, although now I’m coding from the ground up because my knowledge has expanded to the level where I’m confident I can.
I learn as I go because this method works for me, others prefer reading books to do it, but I just use my piles of books as reference points for when I get stuck, but I do have the tendency to sock up information and regular podcasts like the Web 2.0 show is a must for me to get up with new trends, whether or not I choose to implement these trends in my own work.
Ramberling over, back to work.
Matt