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Programming and Writing

antirez.com Essays & writing Essays & articles Design & creativity Candidate
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Resurfaced independently across 3 calendar years, with breakout response in 2 of them.

submissions
3
submitters
3
observed span
2021–2024
peak thread · 82 comments
217 pts
latest 20+ return · 2022-08-11
120 pts

Submission timeline

2007–2026

One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.

First comments on top threads

HN comment order

An underappreciated aspect of programming that is taught well and consistently in the context of writing is the need for iteration. Never publish something without rereading it first. Anything longer than an email, you should have a break between writing a first draft and taking a second look at it. Murder your darlings: learn to recognize things that you're proud of for the wrong reasons, things that other people won't appreciate, and throw them in the trash. The harder something…

dkarl·217-point thread·

> I believe programming, in this regard, can learn something from writing: when writing the first core of a new system, when the original creator is still alone, isolated, able to do anything, she should pretend that this first core is her only bullet. During the genesis of the system she should rewrite this primitive kernel again and again, in order to find the best possible design. My hypothesis is that this initial design will greatly inform what will happen…

rytill·120-point thread·

The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.

Breakout years
2

100+ points or 50+ comments

Total points
339

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Total comments
111

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Every submission

DateTitle as submittedByPointsComments
2021-05-14Programming and WritingFirst breakout · Best threadblopeur21782
2022-08-11Programming and WritingLatest 20+ point returnrevorad12029
2024-01-06Programming and Writingjxmorris1220