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Letter from a Novice

One day last March I found myself reading this little message on my computer monitor:

[#: 288196 S10/Have You Heard?]

[25-Mar-95 20:34:55]

[Sb: Readers for my new book]

[Fm: Steve Heller 71101,1702]

[To: all]

Hi!

I'm looking for some readers for a book I'm working on, which teaches people how to program, using C++ as the language. The ideal candidate is someone who wants to learn how to program, but has little or no knowledge or experience in programming. I can't pay anything, but participants will learn how to program, and will be acknowledged in the book, as well as getting an autographed copy. If you're interested, please reply by e-mail.

Steve

As I considered my response to this message I felt a little trepidation for what was to come. I have only known one profession: nursing. I had owned and used a computer for only a little over two years at the time and thought DOS was too difficult to understand. Not only had I no prior knowledge of programming, I had very little knowledge of computers in general. Yet, what knowledge I did have of the computer fed my curiosity for more, and as my love of the computer grew, it soon was apparent I had no choice. I replied by e-mail.

Evidently I was considered an ideal candidate as I did not wait long for acceptance as a test reader. I then embarked upon a project that I thought would last a few weeks to a few months. It was my expectation that I would read a chapter at a time, submit a few comments occasionally and nothing more. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever expected that I would end up reading every page of this book with utmost attention to detail, leaving no word unturned, no concept overlooked, no hair on my head left unpulled for the next nine months of my life. But, if we were going to make this book as clear as possible for anyone who wanted to read it, there was no other way.

The process of writing this book was an enormous effort on both our parts. Neither Steve nor I could have ever imagined the type of dialogue that would ensue. It just happened; as I asked the questions, he answered the questions and I asked again. The exchange would continue until we were both satisfied that I "had it". When that happened, Steve knew the right wording for the book, and I could move on to the next concept. It was an experience like no other in my life. It was a time filled with confusion, frustration, anger, acceptance, understanding, and joy. The process often gave cause for others to question my motivation for doing it. Admittedly, at times my frustration was such that I wanted to give up. But it was my mountain, and I had to climb it. I would not accept defeat.

The material was not the only source of my frustration. There was the inherent difficulty that Steve and I had in keeping communication flowing and speaking the same language. We found we had very different writing styles which added another obstacle to our undertaking. He, the ultimate professional, and I, the incorrigible misfit, finally managed a happy medium. We corresponded on a daily basis almost exclusively in e-mail. Through that medium it was our challenge to get into each other's minds. He had to learn how I thought and I had to learn how he thought, not an easy task for an "expert" and a "novice" who were total strangers.

What you are about to read is the refinement of the writings of the mind of a genius filtered through the mind of a novice. Ideally, the result of this combination has produced the best possible information written in the most understandable form. The book as you see it is considerably different from the original version, as a result of this filtering process. For that same reason, it is also different from any other book of its kind. To our knowledge, this is the first time that someone with no previous background in programming has been enlisted in the creation of such a book. Of course, it took tutoring, but that tutoring is what led to the simplification of the text so that future novices could enjoy a relatively painfree reading experience.

During the first few months of this process, I had to take it on faith that somehow all of this material would eventually make sense. But late one quiet night while first reading about object-oriented programming, (the creation of "classes") I was abruptly shaken by the most incredible feeling. I was held spellbound for a few moments, I gasped and was gripped with the sudden realization and awe of the profound beauty of the code. I had finally caught a glimpse of what programming was really all about. This experience later led me to write the following quotation to my sister:

Programming is SOOOO gorgeous. So fine, so delicate. It is so beautifully spun with silk threads, tiny and intricate. Yet like silk it can be strong and powerful, it all depends on how you use it.