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The Tao Of Programming

T HE T AO OF PROGRAMMING
Translated by Geoffrey James
Transcribed by Duke Hillard
Transmitted by Anupam Trivedi, Sajitha Tampi, and Meghshyam Jagannath
Re-html-ized and edited by Kragen Sittler
Last modified 1996-04-10 or earlier

T
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A B L E

O F

C

O N T E N T S

The Silent Void
The Ancient Masters
Design
Coding
Maintenance
Management
Corporate Wisdom
Hardware and Software
Epilogue

B

O O K

1 - T

H E

S

I L E N T

VO

I D

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 exists 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
www.canonical.org/~kragen/tao-of -programming.html

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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 C B Lif you can avoid it.
OO
1.3
In the beginning was the Tao. The Tao gave birth to Space and Time.
Therefore Space and Time are 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.

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2 - T

H E

AN

C I E N T

M

A S T E R S

``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
Grand Master Turing once dreamed that he was a machine. When he
awoke he exclaimed:

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`Ì 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: `Ì 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 replies: ``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.''

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3 - D

E S I GN

``When the 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:
`Ì am a great thief, renowned for my feats of shoplifting.
Be forewarned, for this trade show shall not escape
unplundered.''

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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: `Ì 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, `Ì am so perplexed, I cannot live in peace.
Please enlighten me. What is it that you are stealing?''
The man smiled. `Ì 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 the 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?''
`Àn 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

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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?''
`Ìt 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. `Ìn that case, it will take two years.''
`Ànd what if I assign a hundred programmers to it?''
The master programmer shrugged. ``Then the design will never be
completed,'' he said.

B

O O K

4 - C

O D I N G

`À 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 or 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 user in the
way that astonishes him least.
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: `Ì have a program that sometime 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

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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 then run correctly,'' replied the master.
4.3
A master was explaining the nature of Tao of to one of his novices. ``The
Tao is embodied in all software - regardless of how insignificant,'' said the
master.
`Ìs the Tao in a hand-held calculator?'' asked the novice.
`Ìt is,'' came the reply.
`Ìs the Tao in a video game?'' continued the novice.
`Ìt is even in a video game,'' said the master.
`Ànd is the Tao in the DOS for a personal computer?''
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 an error message, and the
program ran like a gentle wind.
`Èxcellent!'' 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 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!''

B

O O K

5 - M

A I N T E N A N C E

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``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.
Neither sound nor thoughts can travel through a vacuum.
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. `Ìt will be finished tomorrow,'' the
programmer promptly replied.
`Ì think you are being unrealistic,'' said the manager, ``Truthfully, how long
will it take?''
The programmer thought for a moment. `Ì have some features that I wish
to add. This will take at least two weeks,'' he finally said.
`Èven that is too much to expect,'' insisted the manager, `Ì 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 that it contained a screen editor, a set of
generalized graphics routines, an artificial intelligence interface, but not the
slightest mention of anything financial.
When the master asked about this, the novice became indignant. ``Don't be
so impatient,'' he said, `Ì'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?

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Does a good programmer refuse to maintain his code?

B

O O K

6 - M

A N A GE M E N T

``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 talk 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
invented 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!''

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But when told this, the programmer once more refused, saying, `Ì 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'm working on."
6.4
A manager went to his programmers and told them: `Às 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: `Àll 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.

B

O O K

7 - C

O R P O R A T E

W

I S D O M

``You can demonstrate a program for a corporate executive, but you can't
make him computer literate.''
7.1
A novice asked the master: `Ìn 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 be?"
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

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message. The master programmer continues to work at his terminal, for he
does not know 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, `èrgonomically 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 raised his eyebrows slightly. `Ìt 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, `Ì 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, `Ì 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.

B

O O K

8 - H

A R D W A R E

A N D

S

O F T W A R E

``Without the wind, the grass does not move. Without software, hardware
is useless.''
8.1
A novice asked the master: `Ì 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

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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.
`Èxcuse me,'' he said, ``may I examine it?''
The novice bolted to attention and handed the device to the master. `Ì 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 underfoot.
And suddenly the novice was enlightened.
8.3
There was once a programmer who worked upon microprocessors.
``Look at how well off I am here,'' he said to a mainframe programmer
who came to visit, `Ì 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 microcomputer 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 the set forth together, thinking to conquer the
world.

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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.

B

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9 - E

P I L O GU E

``It is time for you to leave.''


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The tao of programming

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The tao of programming