Comments on: Coding Vacations http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/ Whats with all the screaming? Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:43:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: kevin http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-147012 kevin Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:11:47 +0000 http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-147012 When I am not at work designing, I'm usually at home designing, or playing games in order to look at their designs. I rarely finish playing games, because once I feel like I 'get' the game's systems, I'm done with it. So yes, designing is entertainment for me. When I am not at work designing, I’m usually at home designing, or playing games in order to look at their designs. I rarely finish playing games, because once I feel like I ‘get’ the game’s systems, I’m done with it.

So yes, designing is entertainment for me.

]]> By: Enno http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-147010 Enno Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:11:18 +0000 http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-147010 I'm doing the same thing - when I'm taking vacation, I usually code for at least a part of it, and then I code for a few days at a stretch. I find that I think with my fingers a lot. Coding puts me in a state of flow real easy, it's something that just never stops, I have at least two or three things in my head at any time that I'm going to make better when I'm done with the one I'm just coding, and when they are done I have two or three new ones already. I’m doing the same thing - when I’m taking vacation, I usually code for at least a part of it, and then I code for a few days at a stretch.

I find that I think with my fingers a lot. Coding puts me in a state of flow real easy, it’s something that just never stops, I have at least two or three things in my head at any time that I’m going to make better when I’m done with the one I’m just coding, and when they are done I have two or three new ones already.

]]> By: robusticus http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146853 robusticus Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:53:49 +0000 http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146853 Someone asked me if I would still work if I had a gazillion dollars in the bank. I said I would but only after a year or two of traveling (and gaming!). And then only for myself, the code would most likely never see production and the pace would be much much slower yet include all the feature creep anybody could think of. I dunno about spending vacation time working. I think I'd opt for the tropical island. Someone asked me if I would still work if I had a gazillion dollars in the bank. I said I would but only after a year or two of traveling (and gaming!). And then only for myself, the code would most likely never see production and the pace would be much much slower yet include all the feature creep anybody could think of.

I dunno about spending vacation time working. I think I’d opt for the tropical island.

]]> By: Matthew Weigel http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146603 Matthew Weigel Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:14:33 +0000 http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146603 I've taken a few vacations like that - most recently was a couple of years ago when I was taking game programming courses at Austin Community College, I took some time off to finish the game projects for two classes. I barely slept, but I had a hell of a time and determined that I definitely needed to do that stuff for a living. :-) About seven years ago, after I'd gotten a real job but before I graduated, I took a week off of work to sit in the Cathedral of Learning and write a paper (on encryption - the final step required for honors I didn't get anyway on my math degree). If I had to draw a comparison, I'd probably say a page of proof feels like about a thousand lines of C++, or a few hundred lines of Perl. I’ve taken a few vacations like that - most recently was a couple of years ago when I was taking game programming courses at Austin Community College, I took some time off to finish the game projects for two classes. I barely slept, but I had a hell of a time and determined that I definitely needed to do that stuff for a living. :-)

About seven years ago, after I’d gotten a real job but before I graduated, I took a week off of work to sit in the Cathedral of Learning and write a paper (on encryption - the final step required for honors I didn’t get anyway on my math degree). If I had to draw a comparison, I’d probably say a page of proof feels like about a thousand lines of C++, or a few hundred lines of Perl.

]]> By: David Mcd http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146586 David Mcd Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:35:25 +0000 http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146586 You bet :) I am exactly that kind of game designer you mentioned -- I make a new, simple game for my blog every Sunday. Most of them have never been played. I do it for fun, as an exercise. I design games while I'm waiting for church to begin or on long road trips. As you say, "It's not work. It's entertainment." You bet :) I am exactly that kind of game designer you mentioned — I make a new, simple game for my blog every Sunday. Most of them have never been played. I do it for fun, as an exercise. I design games while I’m waiting for church to begin or on long road trips. As you say, “It’s not work. It’s entertainment.”

]]> By: David http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146514 David Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:20:34 +0000 http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146514 I love coding vacations. I try to do a little hobby programming nightly, but I'll sometimes lose focus and forget about it for days or weeks at a time. Taking some time over Christmas vacation to devote to my hobby project helped me make substantial improvements and gave me a burst of productivity and enthusiasm that I've sustained for almost four months since then. Non-programmers might think I'm insane to come home from my job programming games and relax by programming games, but it's definitely a different experience working in a minimal, self-owned code base on whatever task captures my interest at the moment. I love coding vacations. I try to do a little hobby programming nightly, but I’ll sometimes lose focus and forget about it for days or weeks at a time. Taking some time over Christmas vacation to devote to my hobby project helped me make substantial improvements and gave me a burst of productivity and enthusiasm that I’ve sustained for almost four months since then. Non-programmers might think I’m insane to come home from my job programming games and relax by programming games, but it’s definitely a different experience working in a minimal, self-owned code base on whatever task captures my interest at the moment.

]]> By: Ophelea http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146468 Ophelea Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:14:23 +0000 http://programmerjoe.com/2008/04/27/coding-vacations/#comment-146468 If I EVER get caught up with writing all of these reviews, previews, editorials and some actual journalism (oh crap, I have some papers due for school - argh!)... I am going to take a week (or month) and do nothing but creative writing. I may do some editorial stuff but it won't be about games or politics but about people (which I suppose it politics). However, it will all be about style, not substance. If I EVER get caught up with writing all of these reviews, previews, editorials and some actual journalism (oh crap, I have some papers due for school - argh!)…

I am going to take a week (or month) and do nothing but creative writing. I may do some editorial stuff but it won’t be about games or politics but about people (which I suppose it politics).

However, it will all be about style, not substance.

]]>