Introduction

I've been wanting to write about this. There were some book titles I noticed referencing the 'art' of programming and I wanted to share an opinion since I'm six years into my programming journey. What makes something creative? The answer to this question should determine the answer to the question. Take my opinions with a grain of you know what.

What makes something an art?

Let's look into the obvious creative mediums. Storytelling immediately comes to mind. The infinite possibilities that arise from each event clearly distinguish this as 'creative'. Music, obviously. Drawing/painting, history backs this one. Although I don't think drawing a replica is 'creative', but a display of talent/skill. Poetry? Meh. Cooking? Sure. From the top of my head storytelling and music are the two clear, powerful creative forms. Storytelling is carried out by movies, books, tv shows, and other writing. Music is often used to intensify video storytelling or serve as an expression for our emotional states. Music and stories are often something I can relate to, making it an easily consumable 'art'. When something is easily consumable, does that strengthen it's position as an art? Definitely, this kind of effect can't be ignored. If I'm looking at modern art piece depicting a white canvas with a banana duck taped to it, I wouldn't be moved by any stretch of the imagination. Art brings an emotion, curiosity, or desire for more in the moments we soak it in. Video, music, food, have this power. Authentic interactions can too. Have you ever seen a conversation in film, video, or real life that brought you to laugh or shed a tear?

Is programming an art?

No. Programming is a medium to make creating art possible and shareable. Is Instagram a piece of art? An engineering marvel yes, but an art? Depends on your definition of art. Art brings an emotion from us. Instagram without content is nothing, the entertainment value from the creators is real. Take Minecraft, the most popular video game of all time with a 'creative' game setting. Minecraft is a sandbox game with a clear intention to give the creative power to the players. The idea and development behind Minecraft might be considered creative, but the idea was simple. The creative part is reserved for the players. A means to an end, that's what programming is. A craft you might call it.

Does this make programming lame?

Not as long as it pays well. You learn a lot about the world when learning to program. The deeper your understanding of programming, the deeper your understanding of the world. That's what programming offers. Not a bad bargain.

Conclusion

No, programming is not in itself an art. But it can be a core part of the creation of an art. It doesn't really matter, it's still magical.

Thanks for reading!