Category : A Collection of Games for DOS and Windows
Archive   : AUTOTAO.ZIP
Filename : TAO.CMP

~14












~11-------------------------------------------

~11T@h@e~2T@a@o~2O@f~2P@r@o@g@r@a@m@m@i@n@g

~11-------------------------------------------





~20T@r@a@n@s@l@a@t@e@d~2B@y


~19G@e@o@f@f@r@e@y~2J@a@m@e@s








~17---------------------------------
~17T@a@b@l@e~2o@f~2C@o@n@t@e@n@t@s
~17---------------------------------





~20Book~11~2--~2The@Silent@Void


~20Book~12~2--~2The@Ancient@Masters


~20Book~13~2--~2Design


~20Book~14~2--~2Coding


~20Book~15~2--~2Maintenance


~20Book~16~2--~2Management


~20Book~17~2--~2Corporate@Wisdom


~20Book~18~2--~2Hardware@and@Software


~20Book~19~2--~2Epilogue






~12T@h@e~2S@i@l@e@n@t~2V@o@i@d@:~1B@o@o@k~2O@n@e
~6----------------------------------------------------------------------
~19Thus@spake@the@master@programmer:

~9"When@you@have@learned@to@snatch@the@error@code@from@the@trap
~18frame,@it@will@be@time@for@you@to@leave."
~6----------------------------------------------------------------------

¾~351.1~7

~7Something@mysterious@is@formed,@born@in@the@silent@void.~1Waiting
~7alone@and@unmoving,@it@is@at@once@still@and@yet@in@constant@motion.
~7It@is@the@source@of@all@programs.~1I@do@not@know@its@name,@so@I@will
~7call@it@the@Tao@of@Programming.
~7
~7If@the@Tao@is@great,@then@the@operating@system@is@great.~1If@the
~7operating@system@is@great,@then@the@compiler@is@great.~1If@the
~7compiler@is@great,@then@the@application@is@great.~1The@user@is
~7pleased@and@there@is@harmony@in@the@world.
~7
~7The@Tao@of@Programming@flows@far@away@and@returns@on@the@wind@of
~7morning.
~7

¾~371.2

~7The@Tao@gave@birth@to@machine@language.~1Machine@language@gave@birth
~7to@the@assembler.

~7The@assembler@gave@birth@to@the@compiler.~1Now@there@are@ten@thousand
~7languages.

~7Each@language@has@its@purpose,@however@humble.~1Each@language
~7expresses@the@Yin@and@Yang@of@software.~1Each@language@has@its@place
~7within@the@Tao.

~7But@do@not@program@in@COBOL@if@you@can@avoid@it.


¾~381.3

~7In@the@beginning@was@the@Tao.~1The@Tao@gave@birth@to@Space@and@Time.
~7Therefore@Space@and@Time@are@Yin@and@Yang@of@programming.

~7Programmers@that@do@not@comprehend@the@Tao@are@always@running@out@of
~7time@and@space@for@their@programs.~1Programmers@that@comprehend@the
~7Tao@always@have@enough@time@and@space@to@accomplish@their@goals.

~7How@could@it@be@otherwise?






¾~381.4

~7The@wise@programmer@is@told@about@Tao@and@follows@it.~1The@average
~7programmer@is@told@about@Tao@and@searches@for@it.~1The@foolish
~7programmer@is@told@about@Tao@and@laughs@at@it.

~7If@it@were@not@for@laughter,@there@would@be@no@Tao.
~7
~7The@highest@sounds@are@hardest@to@hear.~1Going@forward@is@a@way@to
~7retreat.~1Great@talent@shows@itself@late@in@life.~1Even@a@perfect
~7program@still@has@bugs.






~13T@h@e~1A@n@c@i@e@n@t~1M@a@s@t@e@r@s@:~1B@o@o@k~1T@w@o
~6----------------------------------------------------------------------
~19Thus@Spake@the@Master@Programmer:

~8"After@three@days@without@programming,@life@becomes@meaningless."
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------
~7
¾~372.1

~7The@programmers@of@old@were@mysterious@and@profound.~1We@cannot
~7fathom@their@thoughts,@so@all@we@do@is@describe@their@appearance.

~7Aware,@like@a@fox@crossing@the@water.~1Alert,@like@a@general@on@the
~7battlefield.~1Kind,@like@a@hostess@greeting@her@guests.~1Simple,@like
~7an@uncarved@block@of@wood.~1Opaque,@like@a@black@pool@in@a@darkened
~7cave.

~7Who@can@tell@the@secrets@of@their@hearts@and@minds?
~7
~7The@answer@exists@only@in@Tao.

¾~38¾2.2

~7Grand@Master@Turing@once@dreamed@that@he@was@a@machine.~1When@he
~7awoke@he@exclaimed:

~7"I@don't@know@whether@I@am@Turing@dreaming@that@I@am@a@machine,@or@a
~7machine@dreaming@that@I@am@Turing!."

¾~382.3

~7A@programmer@from@a@very@large@computer@company@went@to@a@software
~7conference@and@then@returned@to@report@to@his@manager,@saying:@"What
~7sort@of@programmers@work@for@other@compa-@nies?@They@behaved@badly
~7and@were@unconcerned@with@appearances.~1Their@hair@was@long@and
~7unkept@and@their@clothes@were@wrinkled@and@old.~1They@trashed@out
~7Hospitality@Suite@and@they@made@rude@noises@during@my@presentation."
~7
~7The@manager@said:@"I@should@have@not@sent@you@to@the@conference.
~7Those@programmers@live@beyond@the@physical@world.~1They@consider@life
~7absurd,@an@accidental@coincidence.~1They@come@and@go@without@knowing
~7limitations.~1Without@a@care,@they@live@only@for@their@programs.~1Why
~7should@they@bother@with@social@conventions?
~7
~7They@are@alive@within@the@Tao."






¾~382.4

~7A@novice@asked@the@Master:@"Here@is@a@programmer@that@never@designs,
~7documents@or@tests@his@programs.~1Yet@all@who@know@him@consider@him
~7the@best@of@programmers.~1Why@is@this?"

~7The@Master@replies:@"That@programmer@has@mastered@the@Tao.~1He@has
~7gone@beyond@the@need@for@design;@he@does@not@become@angry@when@the
~7system@crashes,@but@accepts@the@universe@without@concern.~1He@has
~7gone@beyond@the@need@for@documentation;@he@no@longer@cares@if@anyone
~7else@sees@his@code.~1He@has@gone@beyond@the@need@for@testing;@each@of
~7his@programs@is@perfect@within@itself,@serene@and@elegant,@its
~7purpose@self-evident.~1Truly,@he@has@entered@the@mystery@of@Tao."






~22D@e@s@i@g@n@:~1B@o@o@k~1T@h@r@e@e
~6----------------------------------------------------------------------@
~25Thus@spake@the@Master@Programmer:

~5"When@the@program@is@being@tested,@it@is@too@late@to@make@design@changes."
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------

¾~383.1

~7There@once@was@a@man@who@went@to@a@computer@trade@show.~1Each@day@as
~7he@entered,@the@man@told@the@guard@at@the@door:
~7
~7"I@am@a@great@thief,@renowned@for@my@feats@of@shoplifting.~1Be
~7forewarned,@for@this@trade@show@shall@not@escape@unplundered."

~7This@speech@disturbed@the@guard@greatly,@because@there@were@millions
~7of@dollars@of@comput-@er@equipment@inside,@so@he@watched@the@man
~7carefully.~1But@the@man@merely@wandered@from@booth@to@booth,@humming
~7quietly@to@himself.
~7
~7When@the@man@left,@the@guard@took@him@aside@and@searched@his@clothes,
~7but@nothing@was@to@be@found.
~7
~7On@the@next@day@of@the@trade@show,@the@man@returned@and@chided@the
~7guard@saying:@"I@escaped@with@a@vast@booty@yesterday,@but@today@will
~7be@even@better."@So@the@guard@watched@him@ever@more@closely,@but@to
~7no@avail.
~7
~7On@the@final@day@of@the@trade@show,@the@guard@could@restrain@his
~7curiosity@no@longer.~1"Sir@Thief,"@he@said,@"I@am@so@perplexed,@I
~7cannot@live@in@peace.~1Please@enlighten@me.~1What@is@it@that@you@are
~7stealing?"
~7
~7The@man@smiled.~1"I@am@stealing@ideas,"@he@said.

¾~383.2

~7There@once@was@a@master@programmer@who@wrote@unstructured@programs.
~7A@novice@program-@mer,@seeking@to@imitate@him,@also@began@to@write
~7unstructured@programs.~1When@the@novice@asked@the@master@to@evaluate
~7his@progress,@the@master@criticized@him@for@writing@unstructured
~7programs,@saying@"What@is@appropriate@for@the@master@is@not
~7appropriate@for@the@novice.~1You@must@understand@Tao@before
~7transcending@structure."






¾~383.3

~7There@was@once@a@programmer@who@was@attached@to@the@court@of@the
~7warlord@of@Wu.~1The@warlord@asked@the@programmer:@"Which@is@easier@to
~7design:@an@accounting@package@or@an@operating@system?"
~7
~7"An@operating@system,"@replied@the@programmer.
~7
~7The@warlord@uttered@an@exclamation@of@disbelief.~1"Surely@an
~7accounting@package@is@trivial@next@to@the@complexity@of@an@operating
~7system,"@he@said.
~7
~7"Not@so,"@said@the@programmer,@"when@designing@an@accounting@package,
~7the@programmer@operates@as@a@mediator@between@people@having@different
~7ideas:@how@it@must@operate,@how@its@reports@must@appear,@and@how@it
~7must@conform@to@the@tax@laws.~1By@contrast,@an@operating@system@is
~7not@limited@by@outside@appearances.~1When@designing@an@operating
~7system,@the@programmer@seeks@the@simplest@harmony@between@machine@and
~7ideas.~1This@is@why@an@operat-@ing@system@is@easier@to@design."
~7
~7The@warlord@of@Wu@nodded@and@smiled.~1"That@is@all@good@and@well,@but
~7which@is@easier@to@debug?"
~7
~7The@programmer@made@no@reply.
~7
¾~383.4

~7A@manager@went@to@the@master@programmer@and@showed@him@the
~7requirements@document@for@a@new@application.~1The@manager@asked@the
~7master:@"How@long@will@it@take@to@design@this@system@if@I@assign@five
~7programmers@to@it?"
~7
~7"It@will@take@one@year,"@said@the@master@promptly.
~7
~7"But@we@need@this@system@immediately@or@even@sooner!@How@long@will@it
~7take@if@I@assign@ten@programmers@to@it?"
~7
~7The@master@programmer@frowned.~1"In@that@case,@it@will@take@two
~7years."
~7
~7"And@what@if@I@assign@a@hundred@programmers@to@it?"
~7
~7The@master@programmer@shrugged.~1"Then@the@design@will@never@be
~7completed,"@he@said.






~24C@o@d@i@n@g@:~1B@o@o@k~1F@o@u@r
~6----------------------------------------------------------------------@
~24Thus@spake@the@master@programmer:

~1"A@well-written@program@is@its@own@heaven;@a@poorly-written@program@is@its@own@hell."
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------

¾~384.1

~7A@program@should@be@light@and@agile,@its@subroutines@connected@like@a
~7string@of@pearls.~1The@spirit@and@intent@of@the@program@should@be
~7retained@throughout.~1There@should@be@neither@too@little@or@too@much,
~7neither@needless@loops@nor@useless@variables,@neither@lack@of@struc-
~7ture@nor@overwhelming@rigidity.
~7
~7A@program@should@follow@the@'Law@of@Least@Astonishment'.~1What@is
~7this@law?~1It@is@simply@that@the@program@should@always@respond@to@the
~7user@in@the@way@that@astonishes@him@least.
~7
~7A@program,@no@matter@how@complex,@should@act@as@a@single@unit.~1The
~7program@should@be@directed@by@the@logic@within@rather@than@by@outward
~7appearances.
~7
~7If@the@program@fails@in@these@requirements,@it@will@be@in@a@state@of
~7disorder@and@confusion.~1The@only@way@to@correct@this@is@to@rewrite
~7the@program.
~7
¾~384.2
~7
~7A@novice@asked@the@master:@"I@have@a@program@that@sometime@runs@and
~7sometimes@aborts.~1I@have@followed@the@rules@of@programming,@yet@I@am
~7totally@baffled.~1What@is@the@reason@for@this?"
~7
~7The@master@replied:@"You@are@confused@because@you@do@not@understand
~7Tao.~1Only@a@fool@expects@rational@behavior@from@his@fellow@humans.
~7Why@do@you@expect@it@from@a@machine@that@humans@have@constructed?
~7Computers@simulate@determinism;@only@Tao@is@perfect.
~7
~7The@rules@of@programming@are@transitory;@only@Tao@is@eternal.
~7Therefore@you@must@contem-@plate@Tao@before@you@receive
~7enlightenment."
~7
~7"But@how@will@I@know@when@I@have@received@enlightenment?"@asked@the
~7novice.
~7
~7"Your@program@will@then@run@correctly,"@replied@the@master.
~7
~7
~7



¾~384.3
~7
~7A@master@was@explaining@the@nature@of@Tao@of@to@one@of@his@novices,
~7"The@Tao@is@embodied@in@all@software@--@regardless@of@how
~7insignificant,"@said@the@master.
~7
~7"Is@the@Tao@in@a@hand-held@calculator?"@asked@the@novice.
~7
~7"It@is,"@came@the@reply.
~7
~7"Is@the@Tao@in@a@video@game?"@continued@the@novice.
~7
~7"It@is@even@in@a@video@game,"@said@the@master.
~7
~7"And@is@the@Tao@in@the@DOS@for@a@personal@computer?"
~7
~7The@master@coughed@and@shifted@his@position@slightly.~1"The@lesson@is
~7over@for@today,"@he@said.
~7
¾~384.4
~7
~7Prince@Wang's@programmer@was@coding@software.~1His@fingers@danced
~7upon@the@keyboard.~1The@program@compiled@without@an@error@message,
~7and@the@program@ran@like@a@gentle@wind.
~7
~7"Excellent!"@the@Prince@exclaimed,@"Your@technique@is@faultless!"
~7
~7"Technique?"@said@the@programmer@turning@from@his@terminal,@"What@I
~7follow@is@Tao@--@beyond@all@techniques!@When@I@first@began@to@program
~7I@would@see@before@me@the@whole@problem@in@one@mass.~1After@three
~7years@I@no@longer@saw@this@mass.~1Instead,@I@used@subroutines.~1But
~7now@I@see@nothing.~1My@whole@being@exists@in@a@formless@void.~1My
~7senses@are@idle.~1My@spirit,@free@to@work@without@plan,@follows@its
~7own@instinct.~1In@short,@my@program@writes@itself.~1True,@sometimes
~7there@are@difficult@problems.~1I@see@them@coming,@I@slow@down,@I
~7watch@silently.~1Then@I@change@a@single@line@of@code@and@the
~7difficulties@vanish@like@puffs@of@idle@smoke.~1I@then@compile@the
~7program.~1I@sit@still@and@let@the@joy@of@the@work@fill@my@being.~1I
~7close@my@eyes@for@a@moment@and@then@log@off."
~7
~7Prince@Wang@said,@"Would@that@all@of@my@programmers@were@as@wise!"
~7
~7




~19M@a@i@n@t@e@n@a@n@c@e@:~1B@o@o@k~1F@i@v@e
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------
~23Thus@spake@the@master@programmer:

~2"Though@a@program@be@but@three@lines@long,@someday@it@will@have@to@be@maintained."
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------
~7
¾~385.1
~7
~7A@well-used@door@needs@no@oil@on@its@hinges.~1A@swift-flowing@stream
~7does@not@grow@stag-@nant.~1Neither@sound@nor@thoughts@can@travel
~7through@a@vacuum.~1Software@rots@if@not@used.
~7
~7These@are@great@mysteries.
~7
¾~385.2
~7
~7A@manager@asked@a@programmer@how@long@it@would@take@him@to@finish@the
~7program@on@which@he@was@working.~1"I@will@be@finished@tomorrow,"@the
~7programmer@promptly@replied.
~7
~7"I@think@you@are@being@unrealistic,"@said@the@manager,@"Truthfully,
~7how@long@will@it@take?"
~7
~7The@programmer@thought@for@a@moment.~1"I@have@some@features@that@I
~7wish@to@add.~1This@will@take@at@least@two@weeks,"@he@finally@said.
~7
~7"Even@that@is@too@much@to@expect,"@insisted@the@manager,@"I@will@be
~7satisfied@if@you@simply@tell@me@when@the@program@is@complete."
~7
~7The@programmer@agreed@to@this.
~7
~7Several@years@later,@the@manager@retired.~1On@the@way@to@his
~7retirement@lunch,@he@discov-@ered@the@programmer@asleep@at@his
~7terminal.~1He@had@been@programming@all@night.
~7
¾~385.3
~7
~7A@novice@programmer@was@once@assigned@to@code@simple@financial
~7package.
~7
~7The@novice@worked@furiously@for@many@days,@but@when@his@master

~7reviewed@his@program,@he@discovered@that@it@contained@a@screen
~7editor,@a@set@of@generalized@graphics@routines,@an@arti-@ficial
~7intelligence@interface,@but@not@the@slightest@mention@of@anything
~7financial.
~7
~7When@the@master@asked@about@this,@the@novice@became@indignant.
~7"Don't@be@so@impatient,"@he@said,@"@I'll@put@in@the@financial@stuff
~7eventually."
~7
~7




¾~385.4

~7Does@a@good@farmer@neglect@a@crop@he@has@planted?~1Does@a@good
~7teacher@overlook@even@the@most@humble@student?~1Does@a@good@father
~7allow@a@single@child@to@starve?~1Does@a@good@programmer@refuse@to
~7maintain@his@code?
~7
~7
~7
~7
~7
~7
~21M@a@n@a@g@e@m@e@n@t@:~1B@o@o@k~1S@i@x
~8-----------------------------------------------------------------------@
~23Thus@spake@the@master@programmer:
~7
~2"Let@the@programmers@be@many@and@the@managers@few@--@then@all@will@be@productive."
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------

¾~386.1
~39
~7When@managers@hold@endless@meetings,@the@programmers@write@games.
~7When@accountants@talk@of@quarterly@profits,@the@development@budget@is
~7about@to@be@cut.~1When@senior@scien-@tists@talk@blue@sky,@the@clouds
~7are@about@to@roll@in.
~7
~7Truly,@this@is@not@the@Tao@of@Programming.
~7
~7When@managers@make@commitments,@game@programs@are@ignored.~1When
~7accountants@make@long-range@plans,@harmony@and@order@are@about@to@be
~7restored.~1When@senior@scientists@address@the@problems@at@hand,@the
~7problems@will@soon@be@solved.
~7
~7Truly,@this@is@the@Tao@of@Programming.
~7
¾~386.2
~7
~7Why@are@programmers@non-productive?~1Because@their@time@is@wasted@in
~7meetings.
~7
~7Why@are@programmers@rebellious?~1Because@the@management@interferes
~7too@much.
~7
~7Why@are@the@programmers@resigning@one@by@one?~1Because@they@are@burnt
~7out.
~7
~7Having@worked@for@poor@management,@they@no@longer@value@their@jobs.
~7
¾~386.3
~7
~7A@manager@was@about@to@be@fired,@but@a@programmer@who@worked@for@him
~7invented@a@new@program@that@became@popular@and@sold@well.~1As@a
~7result,@the@manager@retained@his@job.
~7
~7The@manager@tries@to@give@the@programmer@a@bonus,@but@the@programmer
~7refused@it,@saying,@"I@wrote@the@program@because@I@thought@it@was@an
~7interesting@concept,@and@thus@I@expect@no@reward."
~7





~7The@manager@upon@hearing@this@remarked,@"This@programmer,@though@he
~7holds@a@position@of@small@esteem,@understands@well@the@proper@duty@of
~7an@employee.~1Let@us@promote@him@to@the@exalted@position@of
~7management@consultant!"
~7
~7But@when@told@this,@the@programmer@once@more@refused,@saying,@"I
~7exist@so@that@I@can@pro-@gram.~1If@I@were@promoted,@I@would@do
~7nothing@but@waste@everyone's@time.~1Can@I@go@now?@I@have@a@program
~7that@I'm@working@on."
~7
¾~386.4
~7
~7A@manager@went@to@his@programmers@and@told@them:@"As@regards@to@your
~7work@hours:@you@are@going@to@have@to@come@in@at@nine@in@the@morning
~7and@leave@at@five@in@the@afternoon."@At@this,@all@of@them@became
~7angry@and@several@resigned@on@the@spot."
~7
~7So@the@manager@said:@"All@right,@in@that@case@you@may@set@your@own
~7working@hours,@as@long@as@you@finish@your@projects@on@schedule."@The
~7programmers,@now@satisfied,@began@to@come@in@at@noon@and@work@to@the
~7wee@hours@of@the@morning.
~7
~7

@


~14C@o@r@p@o@r@a@t@e~1W@i@s@d@o@m@:~1B@o@o@k~1S@e@v@e@n
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------@
~23Thus@spake@the@master@programmer:

~10"You@can@demonstrate@a@program@for@a@corporate@executive,@
~16but@you@can't@make@him@computer@literate."
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------

¾~387.1
~7
~7A@novice@asked@the@master:@"In@the@east@there@is@a@great
~7tree-structure@that@men@call@'Corp-@orate@Headquarters'.~1It@is
~7bloated@out@of@shape@with@vice@presidents@and@accountants.~1It@issues
~7a@multitude@of@memos,@each@saying@'Go,@Hence!'@or@'Go,@Hither!'@and
~7nobody@knows@what@is@meant.~1Every@year@new@names@are@put@onto@the
~7branches,@but@all@to@no@avail.~1How@can@such@an@unnatural@entity
~7exist?"
~7
~7The@master@replies:@"You@perceive@this@immense@structure@and@are
~7disturbed@that@it@has@no@rational@purpose.~1Can@you@not@take
~7amusement@from@its@endless@gyrations?~1Do@you@not@enjoy@the
~7untroubled@ease@of@programming@beneath@its@sheltering@branches?~1Why
~7are@you@bothered@by@its@uselessness?"
~7
¾~387.2
~7
~7In@the@east@there@is@a@shark@which@is@larger@than@all@other@fish.~1It
~7changes@into@a@bird@whose@wings@are@like@clouds@filling@the@sky.
~7When@this@bird@moves@across@the@land,@it@brings@a@message@from
~7Corporate@Headquarters.~1This@message@it@drops@into@the@midst@of@the
~7pro-@grammers,@like@a@seagull@making@its@mark@upon@the@beach.~1Then
~7the@bird@mounts@on@the@wind@and,@with@the@blue@sky@at@its@back,
~7returns@home.
~7
~7The@novice@programmer@stares@in@wonder@at@the@bird,@for@he
~7understands@it@not.~1The@aver-@age@programmer@dreads@the@coming@of
~7the@bird,@for@he@fears@its@message.~1The@master@pro-@grammer
~7continues@to@work@at@his@terminal,@for@he@does@not@know@that@the@bird
~7has@come@and@gone.
~7
¾~387.3
~7
~7The@Magician@of@the@Ivory@Tower@brought@his@latest@invention@for@the
~7master@programmer@to@examine.~1The@magician@wheeled@a@large@black@box
~7into@the@master's@office@while@the@master@waited@in@silence.
~7
~7"This@is@an@integrated,@distributed,@general-purpose@workstation,"
~7began@the@magician,@"ergonomically@designed@with@a@proprietary
~7operating@system,@sixth@generation@languages,@and@multiple@state@of
~7the@art@user@interfaces.~1It@took@my@assistants@several@hundred@man
~7years@to@construct.~1Is@it@not@amazing?"
~7
~7
~7



~7The@master@raised@his@eyebrows@slightly.~1"It@is@indeed@amazing,"@he
~7said.
~7
~7"Corporate@Headquarters@has@commanded,"@continued@the@magician,@"that
~7everyone@use@this@workstation@as@a@platform@for@new@programs.~1Do@you
~7agree@to@this?"
~7
~7"Certainly,"@replied@the@master,@"@I@will@have@it@transported@to@the
~7data@center@immediately!"@And@the@magician@returned@to@his@tower,
~7well@pleased.
~7
~7Several@days@later,@a@novice@wandered@into@the@office@of@the@master
~7programmer@and@said,@"I@cannot@find@the@listing@for@my@new@program.
~7Do@you@know@where@it@might@be?"
~7
~7"Yes,"@replied@the@master,@"the@listings@are@stacked@on@the@platform
~7in@the@data@center."
~7
¾~387.4
~7
~7The@master@programmer@moves@from@program@to@program@without@fear.~1No
~7change@in@manage-@ment@can@harm@him.~1He@will@not@be@fired,@even@if
~7the@project@is@cancelled.~1Why@is@this?~1He@is@filled@with@Tao.






~9H@a@r@d@w@a@r@e~1a@n@d~1S@o@f@t@w@a@r@e@:~1B@o@o@k~1E@i@g@h@t
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------
~24Thus@spake@the@master@programmer:

~1"Without@the@wind,@the@grass@does@not@move.~1Without@software,@hardware@is@useless."
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------

¾~388.1
~7
~7A@novice@asked@the@master:@"I@perceive@that@one@computer@company@is
~7much@larger@than@all@others.~1It@towers@above@its@competition@like@a
~7giant@among@dwarfs.~1Any@one@of@its@divisions@could@comprise@an
~7entire@business.~1Why@is@this@so?"
~7
~7The@master@replied,@"Why@do@you@ask@such@foolish@questions?~1That
~7company@is@large@because@it@is@large.~1If@it@only@made@hardware,
~7nobody@would@buy@it.~1If@it@only@made@software,@nobody@would@use@it.
~7If@it@only@maintained@systems,@people@would@treat@it@like@a@servant.
~7But@be-@cause@it@combines@all@of@these@things,@people@think@it@one@of
~7the@gods!~1By@not@seeking@to@strive,@it@conquers@without@effort."
~7
¾~388.2
~7
~7A@master@programmer@passed@a@novice@programmer@one@day.~1The@master
~7noted@the@novice's@preoccupation@with@a@hand-held@computer@game.
~7"Excuse@me",@he@said,@"may@I@examine@it?"
~7
~7The@novice@bolted@to@attention@and@handed@the@device@to@the@master.
~7"I@see@that@the@device@claims@to@have@three@levels@of@play:@Easy,
~7Medium@and@Hard,"@said@the@master.~1"Yet@every@such@device@has
~7another@level@of@play,@where@the@device@seeks@not@to@conquer@the
~7human,@nor@to@be@conquered@by@the@human."
~7
~7"Pray,@great@master",@implored@the@novice,@"how@does@one@find@this
~7mysterious@setting?"
~7
~7The@master@dropped@the@device@to@the@ground@and@crushed@it@under
~7foot.~1And@suddenly@the@novice@was@enlightened.
~7
¾~388.3
~7
~7There@was@once@a@programmer@who@worked@upon@microprocessors.~1"Look
~7at@how@well@off@I@am@here,"@he@said@to@a@mainframe@programmer@who
~7came@to@visit,@"I@have@my@own@operating@system@and@file@storage
~7device.~1I@do@not@have@to@share@my@resources@with@anyone.~1The
~7software@is@self-consistant@and@easy-to-use.~1Why@do@you@not@quit
~7your@present@job@and@join@me@here?"
~7





~7The@mainframe@programmer@then@began@to@describe@his@system@to@his
~7friend,@saying@"The@mainframe@sits@like@an@ancient@sage@meditating@in
~7the@midst@of@the@data@center.~1Its@disk@drives@lie@end-to-end@like@a
~7great@ocean@of@machinery.~1The@software@is@as@multifaceted@as@a@dia-
~7mond,@and@as@convoluted@as@a@primeval@jungle.~1The@programs,@each
~7unique,@move@through@the@system@like@a@swift-flowing@river.~1That@is
~7why@I@am@happy@where@I@am."
~7
~7The@microcomputer@programmer,@upon@hearing@this,@fell@silent.~1But
~7the@two@programmers@remained@friends@until@the@end@of@their@days.
~7
¾~388.4
~7
~7Hardware@met@Software@on@the@road@to@Changtse.~1Software@said:@"You
~7are@Yin@and@I@am@Yang.~1If@we@travel@together@we@will@become@famous
~7and@earn@vast@sums@of@money."~1And@so@the@set@forth@together,
~7thinking@to@conquer@the@world.
~7
~7Presently@they@met@Firmware,@who@was@dressed@in@tattered@rags@and
~7hobbled@along@propped@on@a@thorny@stick.~1Firmware@said@to@them:@"The
~7Tao@lies@beyond@Yin@and@Yang.~1It@is@silent@and@still@as@a@pool@of
~7water.~1It@does@not@seek@fame,@therefore@nobody@knows@its@presence.
~7It@does@not@seek@fortune,@for@it@is@complete@within@itself.~1It
~7exists@beyond@space@and@time."
~7
~7Software@and@Hardware,@ashamed,@returned@to@their@homes.
~7





~21E@p@i@l@o@g@u@e@:~1B@o@o@k~1N@i@n@e
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------@
~22Thus@spake@the@Master@Programmer:

~26"Time@for@you@to@leave."
~6-----------------------------------------------------------------------
¾~8



þ