编程之道

上大学时候翻译的，发现现在很难找到了，非常感谢the_come同学曾经的引用，让我还能找到自己当初翻译的作品。

The Silent Void
寂静的虚空
Book One
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：

"When you have learned to snatch the error code from the trap frame,
it will be time for you to leave."
“当你能剥离出引发困境的错误代码之时，就是你出师之时。”
1.1
Somethingmysterious is formed, born in the silent void. Waiting alone
andunmoving, it is at once still and yet in constant motion. It is
thesource of all programs. I do not know its name, so I will call it
theTao of Programming.
寂静的虚空,混成出了神秘的事物.他独自在那里静待,如今仍旧永恒而未消退.此
即所有程序之源:不知其名,强曰为编程之道.
Ifthe Tao is great, then the operating system is great. If the
operatingsystem is great, then the compiler is great. If the compiler
isgreater, then the applications is great. The user is pleased and
thereis harmony in the world.
道完美，操作系统则完美;而操作系统完美，编译器则完美——完美的编译器能
诞生完美的应用程序，用户心满意足，世界充满和谐。
The Tao of Programming flows far away and returns on the wind of
morning.
编程之道去兮已远,又随晨风而归。
1.2
The Tao gave birth to machine language. Machine language gave birth to
the assembler.
道生机器语言，机器语言又生汇语言。
The assembler gave birth to the compiler. Now there are ten thousand
languages.
汇编语言则生编译器，如今便有千万种语言在世。
Eachlanguage has its purpose, however humble. Each language expresses
theYin and Yang of software. Each language has its place within the
Tao.
不论多么的微不足道，每种语言都有它自己的目的，每种语言都表达了软件的阴
阳两极。每种语言都各得其道。
But do not program in COBOL if you can avoid it.
但是尽量不要用COBOL语言。
PS:译者:COBOL是一种商用语言,因为觉着有损程序艺术,当初确实被抵制过
1.3
Inthe beginning was the Tao. The Tao gave birth to Space and
Time.Therefore, Space and Time are the Yin and Yang of programming.
太初有道，道生阴阳，而编程的阴阳两极便是空间和时间。
Programmersthat do not comprehend the Tao are always running out of
time and spacefor their programs. Programmers that comprehend the Tao
always haveenough time and space to accomplish their goals.
不懂编程之道的程序员常常把空间和时间消耗殆尽，得道的程序员则总是有足够
的空间和时间去完成编程任务。
How could it be otherwise?
还能是什么样呢？
1.4

Thewise programmer is told about the Tao and follows it. The
averageprogrammer is told about the Tao and searches for it. The
foolishprogrammer is told about the Tao and laughs at it.
上士闻道，从而行之。中士闻道，谨而寻之。下士闻道，大笑之。
If it were not for laughter, there would be no Tao.
无大笑，则不足为道。
Thehighest sounds are the hardest to hear. Going forward is a way
toretreat. Greater talent shows itself late in life. Even a
perfectprogram still has bugs.
希音不闻，进即是退，大器晚成。任何程序都有漏洞。

　
The Ancient Masters
古圣贤
Book Two
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：
"After three days without programming, life becomes meaningless."
三日不编程，食肉无味。

2.1
Theprogrammers of old were mysterious and profound. We cannot fathom
theirthoughts, so all we do is describe their appearance.
远古时代的编程大师们高深莫测，我们不能揣测他们的所思所想，仅能描述外表
所见。
Aware,like a fox crossing the water. alert, like a general on
thebattlefield. Kind, like a hostess greeting her guests. s i m p l e,
likeuncarved blocks of wood. Opaque, like black pools in darkened
caves.
达明兮若渡水狐；机警兮若战场将；和善兮若待客妇；简单兮若未琢木；深邃兮
若黑渊水。
Who can tell the secrets of their hearts and minds?
谁能道尽他们的所有秘密心事？
The answer exists only in the Tao.
答案仅存于道。

2.2
Grand Master Turing once dreamed that he was a machine. When he awoke
he exclaimed:
超级大师图灵曾梦见自己是一台机器，醒后他这样回忆：
　
"I don't know whether I am Turing dreaming that I am a machine, or a
machine dreaming that I am Turing!"
“我不知道是图灵梦见自己变成机器还是机器梦见自己变成图灵。”

2.3
Aprogrammer from a very large computer company went to a
softwareconference and then returned to report to his manager, saying:
"Whatsort of programmers work for other companies? They behaved badly
andwere unconcerned with appearances. Their hair was long and unkempt
andtheir clothes were wrinkled and old. They crashed out
hospitalitysuites and they made rude noises during my presentation."
一个大公司的程序员参加一个软件会议后向他的主管汇报：“那些别的公司的程
序员都是些什么样的人呀？他们举止不雅，不修边幅，头发蓬乱，衣服破旧，根
本不热情好客，还在我说话的时候乱嚷嚷。”
Themanager said: "I should have never sent you to the conference.
Thoseprogrammers live beyond the physical world. They consider life
absurd,an accidental coincidence. They come and go without
knowinglimitations. Without a care, they live only for their programs.
Whyshould they bother with social conventions?"
他的主管说：“我不应该让你参加这次会议，这些程序员生活在现实世界之外。
他们认为生活是可笑的，一场意外的偶然而已。他们来去自由，无所牵挂，他们
只为他们的程序生活。为什么要用世俗的烦扰去扰乱他们呢？”
"They are alive within the Tao."
“他们生活在道中”。

2.4
Anovice asked the Master: "Here is a programmer that never
designs,documents, or tests his programs. Yet all who know him
consider him oneof the best programmers in the world. Why is this?"
一个初学者问主管经理：“有一个程序员，他从来不预先设计，也不写文档，甚
至不测试他的程序，但是知道他的人都认为他是世界上最伟大的程序员，为什么
呢？”
TheMaster replies: "That programmer has mastered the Tao. He has
gonebeyond the need for design; he does not become angry when the
systemcrashes, but accepts the universe without concern. He has gone
beyondthe need for documentation; he no longer cares if anyone else
sees hiscode. He has gone beyond the need for testing; each of his
programs areperfect within themselves, serene and elegant, their
purposeself-evident. Truly, he has entered the mystery of the Tao."
经理说：“那个程序员掌握了道。他已经脱离了设计的藩篱；系统崩溃时他也从
无怒气，只是接受发生的一切而不管发生的事是好是坏。他无需写文档，因为也
不顾 及是否有人看他写的代码。亦无须进行测试；每个程序都有一个完美的自
我，平静而优雅，目的不言自明。的确，他已是入道之境。”
Design
设计
Book Three
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：

"When program is being tested, it is too late to make design changes."

“被测试时再去改变它的设计，为时太晚。”

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:
曾经有一个人参加计算机展览，每天他进门时都对门卫说：

　
"I am a great thief, renowned for my feats of shoplifting. Be
forewarned, for this trade show shall not escape unplundered."
“先警告你：我是偷盗高手，我入室偷盗的本领闻名遐迩。这次展览会也再劫难
逃。”

Thisspeech disturbed the guard greatly, because there were millions
ofdollars of computer equipment inside, so he watched the man
carefully.But the man merely wandered from booth to booth, humming
quietly tohimself.
警卫因此大动干戈，因为里面有价值百万的计算机设备，所以他牢牢盯紧了这个
人，但是这个人只是从一个摊位逛到另一个摊位，一边平静地喃喃自语。

When the man left, the guard took him aside and searched his clothes,
but nothing was to be found.
当这个人离开时，警卫搜了他的身，但是什么也没有发现。

Onthe next day of the trade show, the man returned and chided the
guardsaying: "I escaped with a vast booty yesterday, but today will be
evenbetter." So the guard watched him ever more closely, but to no
avail.
展览会的第二天，这个人又对警卫说：“昨天我满载而归，但是今天我会收获更
大。”所以警卫更加小心地盯紧他，但是这样做完全于事无补。

Onthe final day of the trade show, the guard could restrain his
curiosityno longer. "Sir Thief," he said, "I am so perplexed, I cannot
live inpeace. Please enlighten me. What is it that you are stealing?"
展览会的最后一天，警卫再也不能忍住他的好奇心了。“小偷先生，”他说，“
你使我惊慌不安，请告诉我，你到底偷了什么？”。

The man smiled. "I am stealing ideas," he said.
这个人笑笑说：“我在偷想法。”

3.2
Thereonce was a master programmer who wrote unstructured programs. A
noviceprogrammer, seeking to imitate him, also began to write
unstructuredprograms. 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."
有一位编程大师，他写非结构化的程序，一位初学者刻意模仿他，也写非结构化
的程序。当他让大师评估他的进步时，大师批评了他的非结构化程序：“ 对一
位编程大师合适的东西未必对一个初学者同样合适，在超越结构化之前，你必须
理解编程之道。”

3.3
Therewas once a programmer who was attached to the court of the
warlord ofWu. The warlord asked the programmer: "Which is easier to
design: anaccounting package or an operating system?"
有人问一位程序员，“一个财务软件和一个操作系统哪个更容易设计？”

"An operating system," replied the programmer.
“操作系统”，程序员回答。

Thewarlord uttered an exclamation of disbelief. "Surely an
accountingpackage is trivial next to the complexity of an operating
system," hesaid.
此人大惑不解。他说：“显然一个财务软件比起操作系统来说其复杂性是微不足
道的”。
"Not so,"said the programmer, "when designing an accounting package,
theprogrammer operates as a mediator between people having
differentideas: how it must operate, how its reports must appear, and
how itmust conform to the tax laws. By contrast, an operating system
is notlimited my outside appearances. When designing an operating
system, theprogrammer seeks the s i m p l est harmony between machine
and ideas. Thisis why an operating system is easier to design."
程序员说：“不，设计财务软件时，一个程序员必须成为持不同意见的用户与计
算机的一个中介，他必须了解用户的操作习惯，报表要是什么形式，如何遵循税
法。 相反，一个操作系统完全与这些外部的东西无关。设计操作系统，程序员
只需要达到自己的设想与机器之间的简明一致。这就是为什么操作系统反而比财
务软件更容 易设计。”

The warlord of Wu nodded and smiled. "That is all good and well, but
which is easier to debug?"
这些人笑着说。“不错，但是哪一个更容易调试呢？”

The programmer made no reply.
程序员没有回答。

3.4
Amanager went to the master programmer and showed him the
requirementsdocument for a new application. The manager asked the
master: "How longwill it take to design this system if I assign five
programmers to it?"
一个项目经理带给编程大师一个项目的需求，然后问大师：“如果我给你5个程
序员，要多少时间设计这个项目？”

"It will take one year," said the master promptly.
“一年”，大师说。

"But we need this system immediately or even sooner! How long will it
take it I assign ten programmers to it?"
“但是我们等不了那么长时间，越快越好，如果10程序员呢？”

The master programmer frowned. "In that case, it will take two years."
大师皱了一下眉头说：“那就要花2年”。

"And what if I assign a hundred programmers to it?"
“那，100年程序员呢？”

The master programmer shrugged. "Then the design will never be
completed," he said.
大师耸了耸肩说：“那这个项目就永远完不成了。”
Coding
编码
Book Four
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：

"A well-written program is its own heaven;
a poorly-written program is its own hell."
“写的好的程序自是天堂，写的不好的程序自是地狱”

4.1
Aprogram should be light and agile, its subroutines connected like
astrings of pearls. The spirit and intent of the program should
beretained throughout. There should be neither too little nor too
much,neither needless loops nor useless variables, neither lack of
structurenor overwhelming rigidity.
一个程序应该是轻灵自由，其子过程就象珍珠一连。自始至终，目标明确。增之
一字节则太长，减之一字节则太短。既没有不必要的循环也没有没有被引用的变
量，既不缺少结构化也不至于僵硬呆板。
Aprogram should follow the Law of Least Astonishment. What is this
law?It is simply that the program should always respond to the user in
theway that astonishes him least.
一个程序应该遵循"最小惊讶原则''，什么是"最小惊讶原则''？就是说一个程序
应该最小程度地引起用户的惊讶。

Aprogram, no matter how complex, should act as a single unit.
Theprogram should be directed by the logic within rather than by
outwardappearances.
无论一个程序无论有多么复杂都应该是一个单一的整体。程序是被它的内部逻辑
所指引而不是它的外观表现。

Ifthe program fails in these requirements, it will be in a state
ofdisorder and confusion. The only way to correct this is to rewrite
theprogram.
如果一个程序不能满足所要的需求，它就会处于混乱无序的状态中。唯一的修改
办法就是重写这个程序。

4.2
Anovice asked the master: "I have a program that sometimes runs
andsometimes aborts. I have followed the rules of programming, yet I
amtotally baffled. What is the reason for this?"
一个初学者问大师：“我的一个程序有时正常有时不正常。我已经完全遵循编程
的规则，而且我完全被它弄糊涂了，到底是什么原因会导致这样呢？”

Themaster replied: "You are confused because you do not understand
theTao. Only a fool expects rational behavior from his fellow humans.
Whydo you expect it from a machine that humans have constructed?
Computerssimulate determinism; only the Tao is perfect.
大师说：“你困惑是因为你不了解道。只有傻瓜才会相信只要遵循别人所说就能
得到想当然的结果。为什么你要从一个人类自己构造的机器中去得到想当然的结
果呢？计算机只是决定论的产物；只有道才是唯一完美的。

Therules of programming are transitory; only the Tao is eternal.
Thereforeyou must contemplate the Tao before you receive
enlightenment.
万事无常，唯道永恒。天启之前必须思道。

"But how will I know when I have received enlightenment?" asked the
novice.
新手会问：“但是我怎么知道我何时受到指引呢？”

"Your program will then run correctly," replied the master.
大师则答：“当你的程序正确运行时”。

4.3
Amaster was explaining the nature of the Tao to one of his novices,
"TheTao is embodied in all software -- regardless of how
insignificant,"said the master.
初学者请大师解释“道法自然”。大师说：“道存在于任何软件中－－无论是多
么没有意义的软件”。

"Is the Tao in a hand-held calculator?" asked the novice.
“难道也存在于手持式的计算嚣里？”，初学者问。

"It is," came the reply.
“是的，”

"Is the Tao in a video game?" continued the novice.
“也在游戏机里？”，初学者又问到。

"It is even in a video game," said the master.
“是的，甚至也存在于游戏机里”。大师说。

"And is the Tao in the DOS for a personal computer?"
“也存在于个人计算机的DOS里吗？”

The master coughed and shifted his position slightly. "The lesson is
over for today," he said.
大师咳嗽了一声，稍微动了一下，说，“今天的课就到这里”。

4.4
PriceWang's programmer was coding software. His fingers danced upon
thekeyboard. The program compiled without an error message, and
theprogram ran like a gentle wind.
编程大师编写软件时，手指在键盘上快速飞舞。程序编译时没有一条错误信息，
程序运行起来就象一阵微风吹过。

Excellent!" the Price exclaimed, "Your technique is faultless!"
太精彩了！你的技巧已经无可挑剔了。

"Technique?"said the programmer, turning from his terminal, "What I
follow is theTao -- beyond all technique. When I first began to
program I would seebefore me the whole program in one mass. After
three years I no longersaw this mass. Instead, I used subroutines. But
now I see nothing. Mywhole being exists in a formless void. My senses
are idle. My spirit,free to work without a plan, follows its own
instinct. In short, myprogram writes itself. True, sometimes there are
difficult problems. Isee them coming, I slow down, I watch silently.
Then I change a singleline of code and the difficulties vanish like
puffs of idle smoke. Ithen compile the program. I sit still and let
the joy of the work fillmy being. I close my eyes for a moment and
then log off."
“技巧？”，大师转过身说，“我所遵循的是道--它超乎所有的技巧。当我开始
编程时我看到的是整个一大块的程序，三年后我看到的是子过程。现在我什么也
看 不到了。我的整个存在是没有任何形式的虚无。我感觉很悠闲，总之，事实
上是我的程序自己在写，有时我看到一些问题，我看到它们，就停下来静静地观
察它们， 然后我改变了一行代码，难题就象一阵轻烟一样化为乌有。然后我编
译程序。坐在那里享受工作的喜悦。闭了一会眼睛然后退出系统。

Price Wang said, "Would that all of my programmers were as wise!"
“什么时候我的程序员才能都达到这样的境界!”

Mainteance
维护
Book Five
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：

"Though a program be but three lines long, someday it will have to be
maintained."
“既使一个程序只有三行长，也总有一天需要去维护它”

　

5.1
A well-used door needs no oil on its hinges.
A swift-flowing steam does no grow stagnant.
Neither sound nor thoughts can travel through a vacuum.
Software rots if not used.
These are great mysteries.
常用的门轴不用油。
流水里面无滞留。
心声无传于真空。
软件不用就腐朽。
世界就如此奇妙。

5.2
Amanager asked a programmer how long it would take him to finish
theprogram on which he was working. "I will be finished tomorrow,"
theprogrammer promptly replied.
经理问程序员要多长时间才能完成他的项目。程序员立刻回答：“明天”
"I think you are being unrealistic," said the manager. "Truthfully,
how long will it take?"
“太不实际了，老实说，要多久？”

Theprogrammer thought for a moment. "I have some features that I wish
toadd. This will take at least two weeks," he finally said.
程序员想了一想说。“还有一些新的特性要加进去，这样则至少要两个星期。”

"Eventhat is too much to expect," insisted the manager, "I will be
satisfiedif you simply tell me when the program is complete."
“即使两个星期也不值得期待，”经理一再坚持“什么时候完成了，你只要告诉
我就好了。”

The programmer agreed to this.
程序员答应了。

Severalyears slated, the manager retired. On the way to his retirement
5.3
A novice programmer was once assigned to code a s i m p l e financial
package.
一个初学者被要求编写一个财务软件。
Thenovice worked furiously for many days, but when his master reviewed
hisprogram, he discovered that it contained a screen editor, a set
ofgeneralized graphics routines, and artificial intelligence
interface,but not the slightest mention of anything financial.
他大张旗鼓地工作了很多天，但他的主管检视他的程序都有什么时，发现仅包含
一个编辑器，一个图形程序集，和人工智能的界面，就是看不到任何跟财务有关
的东西。

Whenthe master asked about this, the novice became indignant. "Don't
be soimpatient," he said, "I'll put the financial stuff in
eventually."
主管要求解释时，新手被激怒了：“你太没耐心了，最终我会把财务因素加进去
。”

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?
Does a good programmer refuse to maintain his code?

一个好的农民不会不管他的庄稼。
一个好的老师不会不管哪怕是最差的学生。
一个好的父亲不会让他的任何一个孩子挨饿。
一个好的程序员不会拒绝维护他的程序。
Management
Book Six
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：

"Let the programmer be many and the managers few -- then all will be
productive."
“增加程序员，减少经理--这样他们都可提高效率。”

6.1
Whenmanagers hold endless meetings, the programmers write games.
Whenaccountants talk of quarterly profits, the development budget is
aboutto be cut. When senior scientists talk blue sky, the clouds are
aboutto roll in.
经理们忙于无休无止的会议时，程序员们在写游戏。财务主管在谈论季度盈利时
，开发预算将会被削减。当资深科学家在谈论蓝天时，将会风起云涌。

Truly, this is not the Tao of Programming.
当然，这不是编程之道。

Whenmanagers make commitments, game programs are ignored. When
accountantsmake long-range plans, harmony and order are about to be
restored. Whensenior scientists address the problems at hand, the
problems will soonbe solved.
经理分配任务，则无人再去游戏，会计师计划长远，则人人都会受益。科学家提
出具体问题，什么都会很快得到解决。

Truly, this is the Tao of Programming.
的确，这才是编程之道。

6.2
Why are programmers non-productive? Because their time is wasted in
meetings.
为什么程序员没有效率，因为他们把时间都浪费在开会上了。

Why are programmers rebellious? Because the management interferes too
much.
为什么程序员难于管理？因为管理者的干预太多了。

Why are the programmers resigning one by one? Because they are burnt
out.
为什么程序员一个接一个地辞职，因为他们累坏了。

Having worked for poor management, they no longer value their jobs.
在糟糕的管理下工作，他们享受不到工作的乐趣。
6.3
Amanager was about to be fired, but a programmer who worked for
himinvented a new program that became popular and sold well. As a
result,the manager retained his job.
一个经理将被解雇，但他手下的一个程序员写了一个流行的软件并且销路很旺。
所以经理保住了他的工作。

Themanager tried to give the programmer a bonus, but the
programmerrefused it, saying, "I wrote the program because I though it
was aninteresting concept, and thus I expect no reward."
经理为程序员分红，但程序员拒绝了，他说：“我写程序是因为写程序很有趣，
所以我并没想过得资金”。
Themanager, upon hearing this, remarked, "This programmer, though he
holdsa position of small esteem, understands well the proper duty of
anemployee. Lets promote him to the exalted position of
managementconsultant!"
这位经理说，“这位程序员，不管他现在是什么位置，他都能理解一个雇员的职
责所在。我们要把他提升为管理顾问”。

Butwhen told this, the programmer once more refused, saying, "I exist
sothat I can program. If I were promoted, I would do nothing but
wasteeveryone's time. Can I go now? I have a program that I'm working
one."
这位程序员又一次拒绝了，他说：“我是一个程序员所以我可以编程，如果我被
提升了，除了浪费别人的时间什么也做不了，现在我可以走了吗？我还有一个程
序没写完。”

6.4
Amanger went to his programmers and told them: "As regards to your
workhours: you are going to have to come in at nine in the morning
andleave at five in the afternoon." At this, all of them became angry
andseveral resigned on the spot.
经理对程序员说，“你们的工作时间是早上9点到正午点。”，所有的程序员都
很不满。

Sothe manager said: "All right, in that case you may set your own
workinghours, as long as you finish your projects on schedule."
Theprogrammers, now satisfied, began to come in a noon and work to the
weehours of the morning.
经理又说：“好吧，那随你们的便，只要能按时完成任务。”，程序员们这下满
意了，他们中午上班，一直工作到凌晨。

Corporate Wisdom
公司智慧
Book Seven
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：

"You can demonstrate a program for a corporate executive, but you
can't make him computer literate."
“你可以向一位公司主管演示一套程序，但是你无法让他精通电脑。”
7.1
Anovice asked the master: "In the east there is a great tree-
structurethat men call 'Corporate Headquarters'. It is bloated out of
shape withvice-presidents and accountants. It issues a multitude of
memos, eachsaying '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 exist?"
一个新手问大师：“在东方，有一个叫总部的庞大树形机构。它由为数众多的大
小领导。每天发出大量的单子，上面写着：‘干这！干那！’，没有一个人知道
上面是什么意思。每年这个树状机构都会增加他的分支，但是全是写没用的。但
是这样不自然的实体还会存在呢？”

Themaster replies: "You perceive this immense structure and are
disturbedthat it has no rational purpose. Can you not take amusement
from itsendless gyrations? Do you not enjoy the untroubled ease of
programmingbeneath its sheltering branches? Why are you bothered by
itsuselessness?"
大师说：“你既接受了这种大而无用的结构，还为他相关企图而烦扰什么，为何
不在这种无尽回旋之中快乐呢？难道不能享受在众多分支庇护下下，无忧无虑的
愉悦编程，却为那些无用之处而不快？”

7.2
Inthe east there is a shark which is larger than all other fish.
Itchanges into a bird whose winds are like clouds filling the sky.
Whenthis bird moves across the land, it brings a message from
CorporateHeadquarters. This message it drops into the midst of the
program-mers, like a seagull m a k i n g its mark upon the beach. Then
the birdmounts on the wind and, with the blue sky at its back, returns
home.
在遥远的东方，传说有一只巨大的鱼，叫鲲，化而为鸟，名鹏，鹏的翅膀可以遮
天蔽日，这只大鸟经过陆地的时候，带了一个消息丢入程序员中，就象一只在海
滩上做了记号的海鸥，然后鹏负青天，乘风而归。

Thenovice programmer stares in wonder at the bird, for he understands
itnot. The average programmer dreads the coming of the bird, for he
fearsits message. The master programmer continues to work at his
terminal,for he does not know that the bird has come and gone.
初学者惊恐地看着这只鸟，根本不敢相信，中级程序员担心这只鸟的到来，因为
它害怕它带来的消息，编程大师则继续在他的终端前工作，根本不知道这只鸟曾
经来过。

7.3
TheMagician of the Ivory Tower brought his latest invention for the
masterprogrammer to examine. The magician wheeled a large black box
into themaster's office while the master waited in silence.
一个学究带着他的最新发明去见编程大师，他把一个大黑盒子推进大师的办公室
。

"Thisis an integrated, distributed, general-purpose workstation,"
began themagician, "ergonomically designed with a proprietary
operating system,sixth generation languages, and multiple state of the
art userinterfaces. It took my assistants several hundred man years
toconstruct. Is it not amazing?"
“这是综合的、分布式的通用工作站，”，学究开始介绍了，“按人体工学设计
的操作系统，第六代的高级语言，多样的用户界面，整整花了我的助手好几百人
年的时间，让人惊喜吧？”

The master raised his eyebrows slightly. "It is indeed amazing," he
said.
大师轻扬了一下眉毛，说：“的确很了不起。”

"CorporateHeadquarters has commanded," continued the magician, "that
everyone usethis workstation as a platform for new programs. Do you
agree to this?"
“头儿已经说了，”这位学究继续说，“每个人都要用这个工作站作平台，你觉
得怎么样？”

"Certainly,"replied the master, "I will have it transported to the
data centerimmediately!" And the magician returned to his tower, well
pleased.
“当然了，”，大师回答说，“我要马上把它送到数据中心去！”，这位学究满
意去回去了。

Severaldays later, a novice wandered into the office of the master
programmerand said, "I cannot find the listing for my new program. Do
you knowwhere it might be?"
几天后，一个新手走进大师的办公室说，“我找不到我新写的程序了，你知道它
可能会在哪儿吗？”

"Yes," replied the master, "the listings are stacked on the platform
in the data center."
“当然，”，大师说，“你的程序在数据中心的平台里放着。”
ps：译者：学究原文魔术师，因为学校的学究总是研究出些令人惊奇的东西

7.4
Themaster programmer moves from program to program without fear. No
changein management can harm him. He will not be fired, even if the
projectis canceled. Why is this? He is filled with the Tao.
编程大师从一个项目转到另一个项目而豪无顾虑，任何管理上的变动都不能影响
他，即使项目被取消了，他不会被解雇。为什么呢？他遵循了道。

Hardware and Software
硬件和软件
Book Eight
Thus spake the master programmer:

　
"Without the wind, the grass does not move.
Without software, hardware is useless."
风不动则草不动，
没有软件，硬件毫无用处

8.1
Anovice asked the master: "I perceive that one computer company is
muchlarger than all others. It towers above its competition like a
giantamong dwarfs. Any one of its divisions could comprise an
entirebusiness. Why is this so?"
一个初学者问编程大师：“我知道有一家计算机公司比所有其它的公司都大。在
它面前它的竞争对手就象站在巨人面前的侏儒。它的任一部门都有各自的业务，
为什么会这样呢？”

Themaster replied, "Why do you ask such foolish questions? That
company islarge because it is so large. If it only made hardware,
nobody wouldbuy it. If it only maintained systems, people would treat
it like aservant. But because it combines all of these things, people
think itone of the gods! By not seeking to strive, it conquers without
effort."
大师说，“为什么你问如此愚蠢的问题呢？那家公司大是因为它就是如此之大，
如果它只做硬件，就没有人会买，如果它只维护系统，人们只会把它当作仆人，
但是它的业务囊括了所有这些东西，人们就对它顶礼莫拜好象不用努力奋斗就可
击败竞争对手。"

8.2
Amaster programmer passed a novice programmer one day. The master
notedthe novice's preoccupation with a hand-held computer game.
"Excuse me",he said, "may I examine it?"
有一天编程大师碰见了一个正玩掌上游戏机的编程新手，他说：“给我看一下？
”

Thenovice bolted to attention and handed the device to the master. "I
seethat the device claims to have three levels of play: Easy, Medium,
andHard", said the master. "Yet every such device has another level
ofplay, where the device seeks not to conquer the human, nor to
beconquered by the human."
新手把游戏机递给大师，“我看到上面说明了三种难度的玩法：容易，中等，高
难”，大师说，“但是每个这样的游戏机都有另外一种玩法，此时游戏机即不是
想着怎么赢你，也不是怎么被你赢。”

"Pray, great master," implored the novice, "how does one find this
mysterious setting?"
“那么请问大师”，初学者说，“这种玩法到底是怎样玩的呢？”

The master dropped the device to the ground and crushed it under foot.
And suddenly the novice was enlightened.
大师把游戏机摔到地下然后用脚踩碎，突然初学者明白了。

8.3
Therewas once a programmer who worked upon microprocessors. "Look at
howwell off I am here," he said to a mainframe programmer who came
tovisit, "I have my own operating system and file storage device. I
donot have to share my resources with anyone. The software isself-
consistent and easy-to-use. Why do you not quit your present joband
join me here?"
有一个工作在微机上的程序员对前来参观的大型机程序员说：“看看我这里吧，
我有自己的操作系统和文件存储设备，不需要与别人共享任何资源，软件条条有
理并且易于操作。为什么你不辞去你的工作到这里来呢？”

Themainframe programmer then began to describe his system to his
friend,saying: "The mainframe sits like an ancient sage meditating in
themidst of the data center. Its disk drives lie end-to-end like a
greatocean of machinery. The software is a multi-faceted as a diamond
and asconvoluted as a primeval jungle. The programs, each unique,
movethrough the system like a swift-flowing river. That is why I am
happywhere I am."
大型机的程序员对他的朋友说：“大型机就象古代圣贤一样深思熟虑，它的磁盘
设备从头到尾就象是一个巨大的机械设备的海洋。软件象钻石一样有多个面，如
远古的森林一样令人费解。每一个程序都象水经过河流一样穿行于系统中，那就
是为什么我乐于为它工作”

Themicrocomputer programmer, upon hearing this, fell silent. But the
twoprogrammers remained friends until the end of their days.
微机程序员听了这些话后，默默不语，但这两个程序员成为生死好友

8.4
Hardwaremet Software on the road to Changtse. Software said: "You are
the Yinand I am the Yang. If we travel together we will become famous
and earnvast sums of money." And so the pair set forth together,
thinking toconquer the world.
硬件和软件在路上碰见了，软件说：“你是阴我是阳，如果我们联手就可以赚大
钱。”所以它们走到了一起，考虑怎样征服世界。

Presently,they met Firmware, who was dressed in tattered rags, and
hobbled alongpropped on a thorny stick. Firmware said to them: "The
Tao lies beyondYin and Yang. It is silent and still as a pool of
water. It does notseek fame, therefore nobody knows its presence. It
does not seeksfortune, for it is complete within itself. It exists
beyond space andtime."
不久，它们遇到了固件，固件衣衫褴褛，拄着一根拐棍步履蹒跚。固件对它们说
：“道在于阴阳之外。它静如止水，它从不指望能扬名远近，所以没有人知道它
的存在。它也不寻求幸福，它只是与它自己的存在在一起，它存在于空间和时间
之外。”

Software and Hardware, ashamed, returned to their homes.
软件和硬件面有惭色，各自回了家。
Epilogue
尾声
Book Nine
Thus spake the master programmer:
编程大师如是说：

"Time for you to leave."
“现在是你出师的时候了。”

转载于:https://www.cnblogs.com/solarup/p/8036030.html