Creativity in Software

“Great software, likewise, requires a fanatical devotion to beauty. If you look inside good software, you find that parts no one is ever supposed to see are beautiful too.” - Paul Graham, Hackers and Painters

I am often brought back to this essay by Paul Graham. He often grounds us in our pursuit of perfect software by putting in perspective the nature of our work. We may not be as artistic as our tradesmen counterparts, but if we strive for a more balanced reform between technical work and artistry, we can deliver high quality and more original work, leading to innovation and greater aspirations.

Creativity is key in software development as much as it is in any other profession.