[Invisibledeath]

So basically I told my friend, that I am learning programming. He keeps on insisting that programming is just copy pasting of other people's code, without giving any argument and he won't accept my opinion, that programming is definitely not that. How can I prove him wrong?

This post has been edited by Invisibledeath: 08 November 2011 - 11:43 AM

[Topher84]

Physical violence is your only option....

[Raynes]

Tell him to go die in a fire? He's obviously a hardcore idiot, so I doubt you can/should try to prove him wrong. Just be sure to wave your paycheck in his face when/if you get a job programming. Make sure he knows you got there by copying and pasting code.

[macosxnerd101]

In the wise words of Ayn Rand:

Quote

Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it. Do not count on them. Leave them alone.

[lordofduct]

Who wrote the line of code you are copying?

If someone had to propagate the code that is being copy pasted. Then why can't people still be propagating new lines of code?

I think your friend's issue is that there are a lot of people out there who DO copy and paste and get away with calling themselves programmers.

But send him on over, and let him try and 'copy-paste' together any of the code many of us have written. (that is without seeing our actual code)

[supersloth]

your friend is choscura talking about piracy level dumb.

[RetardedGenius]

Ask him to write a program that solves some trivial but non-existent problem and let him tie his own noose. Or just leave him alone; he sounds pretty stupid.

[modi123_1]

Quote

without giving any argument and he won't accept my opinion, that programming is definitely not that. How can I prove him wrong?

Why is it important to prove him wrong? If he is going to spout unsubstantiated claims what is there to refute? I would advocate ignoring him until he provides some sort of support; it's not worth the energy, right? If he continues imploy your local rude hand gestures, and if required, escalate until you are required to sack tap him. Regardless of the outcome I would suggest taking your ball and go home.

[BenignDesign]

I think you need to find new friends.

On a semi-related note:
Some kid in my daughter's 3rd grade class made the comment that programming is easy. I challenged him to a throw down. He backed down. Chickenshit.

This post has been edited by BenignDesign: 08 November 2011 - 12:27 PM

[jon.kiparsky]

I don't care if you copy and paste the symbols or type them yourself. The real trouble is getting them in the right order.

[Creecher]

You should tell your friend that learning Spanish(or any other language) is like copy pasting, then, as well.

[jon.kiparsky]

Some people seem to get around a week in Spain with a phrase book. I don't think they see anything very interesting or have any interesting conversations, though.

[EnvXOwner]

lol my friends don't think that. My friends think I'm a genius because all of the symbols (PHP to me symbols to them XP) that I write.

[DimitriV]

Chain him up then type meaningless gibberish into the designer's code window.

[AVReidy]

Ask your friend to look up "Programming" in the dictionary. If it says, "The act of copyright infringement," then your friend probably has a case. Otherwise, ignore his attempt to push your buttons .

But really, some aspects of programming are indistinguishable from copying and pasting. It's not like you designed the syntax for C++, so in that respect you are copying, but programming isn't just coding; it's thinking, applying, and building. Even if you were copying and pasting half of your code, as long as you're creating something creative and original with your own thought process, I'd say you're programming.

I'm sure a few houses in this world are created of virtually identical bricks, but that doesn't mean they have the same functionality in the structure.