translated by geoffrey james


[小赵]翻译整理

说明:
　　本文是<<编程之道>> <<编程之禅>><<计算机时代的寓言>>其中的一册, 由小赵翻译整理, 另外, 这三册书的完整电子文档由小赵根据市面上的<< 编程之道>>一书(包括了上面的三卷)录入整理, 随后将一起刊登（参见《编程之道》全译文）。

table of contents 目录

book 1 -- the silent void
book 2 -- the ancient masters
book 3 -- design
book 4 -- coding
book 5 -- maintenance
book 6 -- management
book 7 -- corporate wisdom
book 8 -- hardware and software
book 9 -- epilogue



the silent void
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."
“当你从我手中夺走水晶球时，就是你离开的时候了。”
1.1
something mysterious is formed, born in the silent void. waiting alone and unmoving, it is at once still and yet in constant motion. it is the source of all programs. i do not know its name, so i will call it the tao of programming.
寂静的虚空里诞生了神秘的东西，这种东西恒久存在永不消失，它是所有程序的根源所在，我不知道怎么形容它，姑且称它为编程之道。

if the tao is great, then the operating system is great. if the operating system is great, then the compiler is great. if the compiler is greater, then the applications is great. the user is pleased and there is harmony in the world.
如果道是完美的，那么操作系统就是完美的，如果操作系统是完美的，那么编译嚣就是完美的，如果编译嚣是完美的，那么应用程序就是完美的，所以用户心满意足，整个世界因此和谐。

the tao of programming flows far away and returns on the wind of morning.
编程之道去如黄鹤来如晨风。

1.2
the tao gave birth to machine language. machine language gave birth to the assembler.
道生机器语言，机器语言生汇编嚣。

the assembler gave birth to the compiler. now there are ten thousand languages.
汇编器生编译器，最后产生上万种高级语言。

each language has its purpose, however humble. each language expresses the yin 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。

1.3
in the beginning was the tao. the tao gave birth to space and time. therefore, space and time are the yin and yang of programming.
道之初，带来了空间和时间，所以，空间和时间是编程的阴阳两极。

programmers that do not comprehend the tao are always running out of time and space for their programs. programmers that comprehend the tao always have enough 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?
否则会是什么样呢？

1.4
the wise programmer is told about the tao and follows it. the average programmer is told about the tao and searches for it. the foolish programmer 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.
大笑不足为道。

the highest sounds are the hardest to hear. going forward is a way to retreat. greater talent shows itself late in life. even a perfect program still has bugs.
希音不闻，进即是退，大嚣晚成。任何程序都有漏洞。


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the ancient masters
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
the programmers of old were mysterious and profound. we cannot fathom their thoughts, 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，只能描述外表所见。

aware, like a fox crossing the water. alert, like a general on the battlefield. kind, like a hostess greeting her guests. simple, like uncarved blocks of wood. opaque, like black pools in darkened caves.
他达明，如狐狸过水；机警，如战场上的将军；和善，如主妇款待客人；简单，呆若木鸡；混沌，如深渊之水。

who can tell the secrets of their hearts and minds?
谁能道尽他们的所有？

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
a programmer from a very large computer company went to a software conference and then returned to report to his manager, saying: "what sort of programmers work for other companies? they behaved badly and were unconcerned with appearances. their hair was long and unkempt and their clothes were wrinkled and old. they crashed out hospitality suites 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。”

the manager said: "i should have never sent you to the conference. those programmers live beyond the physical world. they consider life absurd, an accidental coincidence. they come and go without knowing limitations. without a care, they live only for their programs. why should 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
a novice asked the master: "here is a programmer that never designs, documents, or tests his programs. yet all who know him consider him one of 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？”

the master replies: "that programmer has mastered the tao. he has gone beyond the need for design; he does not become angry when the system crashes, but accepts the universe without concern. he has gone beyond the need for documentation; he no longer cares if anyone else sees his code. he has gone beyond the need for testing; each of his programs are perfect within themselves, serene and elegant, their purpose self-evident. truly, he has entered the mystery of the tao."
经理说：“那个程序员掌握了道。他不需要预先进行设计；系统崩溃时他也从不烦燥，只是接受发生的一切而不管发生的事是好是坏 。他不需要写文档，他从不顾及有没有人看他写的代码。他也不需要进行测试；他写的每个程序都有一个完美的自我，平静而优雅，它们的目的不言自明。他已经真正掌握了道的精髓。”