How do you Motivate yourself to Write Code?!?

[Linux23]

okay, i've been working on this program since 1996. did a major update to it in 1997, then in 2000 i began to write some macros for Word 2000 to interface with my program. a couple of months later i converted all of those macros to VB6 and renamed the project to something totally different, so i had to go through at least 20,000 lines of code and weed out the titles i had for my old project.

and now, after several revisions later in VB6, i'm still not finished with it (few bugs with the database interface and my CDM).

for people that do this as their occupation, how the hell do you stay focused?

oh well, i'm pushing for a 2003 release date!

 

[BCYL]

When you do this for a living, you dont need to motivate yourself... your supervisors motivate you by setting deadlines you HAVE to meet...

 

[obiwaynekenobi]

You gotta want it really bad. or have a REALLY big motitivator like... money.


I've done some vb6 programming I did a REALLY small considerably easy Ms Access database, and by tht eime I got everything in so I could get in and edit it at will, I spent well 200 hours on it.

 

[notfred]

<< for people that do this as their occupation, how the hell do you stay focused? >>



rent, food, car payment, etc.

 

[Ameesh]

you should have defined some constant string for the title of your program so you only had to change it once and it would change everywhere.



i stay motivated because i enjoy programming, its fun and intellectually challenging.

 

[hans007]

programming is intellectually challenging , yes.

but deadlines suck, makes you go crazy. besides debug is 85% of your time spent, and that is not intellectually challenging

 

[Spendthrift]

hmmmm...thats a difficult question. i couldnt motivate myself to write code. so i switched out of comp sci after a year. guess thats not much help.

 

[pillage2001]

SUPER last minute programming always works.

 

[loup garou]

<< SUPER last minute programming always works. >>


No, it doesn't. Tell that to this stupid java program I've been debugging for the past 2 hours. :|

 

[yakko]

*fap*fap*fap*

 

[pillage2001]

<<

<< SUPER last minute programming always works. >>


No, it doesn't. Tell that to this stupid java program I've been debugging for the past 2 hours. :| >>



Well, it has been working well for me. What kinda program are you doing?

 

[loup garou]

<<

<<

<< SUPER last minute programming always works. >>


No, it doesn't. Tell that to this stupid java program I've been debugging for the past 2 hours. :| >>



Well, it has been working well for me. What kinda program are you doing? >>


It's just a silly assignment for class -- an inventory system/store type thing. You know, one of those useless examples they give you in class that in no way translates to the real world. I'm just too tired to be debugging right now. And after this I have like a zillion forms & reports to whip up for my Client/Server DB Dev course. I hate the end of the semester, finals are easier than all the damn project work. Oh well, just 2 summer classes, then school can kiss my ass.

 

[singh]

The key is to take your time finding a job that you like. Other than that, besides programming for my job, I always keep a couple of side projects for my own enjoyment.

 

[Derango]

I don't have to motivate myself to write code. I do it because It's what I like doing. Its fun

Even code for a class or somthing. I normaly have the programming assingments my prof gives out completed soon after they are assigned. Not because they're easy...because i like writing code.

EDIT: Debugging isn't intelecually challenging? I beg to differ! "Why the hell is my program doing that?!?!?!" Thats probably the hardest part of the whole thing

 

[joohang]

Work in a Great team with a Shared Vision.

Also, check these out:
Linkie to Microsoft Solutions Framework
Extreme Programming

And read Jim McCarthy's "Software For Your Head" and learn about the Core protocols.
Linkie to Amazon.com
Linkie to Chapters
Book Review from the Extreme Programming Magazine

If you see anything wrong with your current process of software development - and you will likely identify many faults - refer to the above if you are willing to fix them and make it more fun.

I will leave it at that because otherwise it will sound like I'm marketing the company I work for.