Programming has aspects of both art and science. While it was once viewed as magic rather than engineering, it is a discipline that combines creativity with logical problem solving. Like art, programming involves individual expression and using tools like languages and frameworks to depict alternative realities, but it is also rooted in trial and error testing rather than mathematical proof. Ultimately, programming blends art built upon logic.

2. A Brief Story

6. Programming
Is it Science or is it Art ?

7. Let's go back to
the early days

8. "Software during the early days of this
project was treated like a stepchild
and not taken as seriously as other
engineering disciplines, such as
hardware engineering; and it was
regarded as an art and as magic, not
a science."
Margaret Hamilton

9. What is Art?

10. "Works produced by human
creative skill and
imagination."
Oxford Dictionary

11. “The object of art is not to
reproduce reality, but to
create a reality of the same
intensity.”
Alberto Giacometti

12. Key Aspects of Art
● Creativity and Imagination
● Individual Expression
● Depicts an alternative reality

13. Demystifying Art
● Not an adjective
● Doesn't need to be good
● Doesn't need to be beautiful

14. Now back to
Software

15. "I began to use the term 'software
engineering' to distinguish it from
hardware and other kinds of
engineering. It was an ongoing
joke for a long time. They liked to
kid me about my radical ideas"
Margaret Hamilton

16. The Truth About Software Engineering
● Still very young
● Strongly based on trial-and-error
● Tests can't be considered mathematical proof

17. Programming Languages
are Building Blocks

18. Going Vanilla

19. Using a Framework

20. The Rest is Up to You!

21. Programming is Art
Built on top of Logic.

23. “Don’t think about making art, just
get it done. Let everyone else decide
if it’s good or bad, whether they love
it or hate it. While they are deciding,
make even more art.”
Andy Warhol

24. Thanks!
@erikaheidi | eheidi.dev