The Evolution of a Programmer

High School/Jr.High
===================
10 PRINT "HELLO WORLD"
20 END
 
First year in College
=====================
program Hello(input, output)
begin
writeln('Hello World')
end.
 
Senior year in College
======================
(defun hello
(print
(cons 'Hello (list 'World))))
 
New professional
================
#include <stdio.h>
void main(void)
{
char *message[] = {"Hello ", "World"};
int i;
for(i = 0; i < 2; ++i)
printf("%s", message[i]);
printf("\n");
}
 
Seasoned professional
=====================
#include <iostream.h>
#include <string.h>
class string {
private:
int size;
char *ptr;
public:
string() : size(0), ptr(new char('\0')) {}
string(const string &s) : size(s.size) { ptr = new char[size + 1]; strcpy(ptr, s.ptr); }
~string() { delete [] ptr; }
friend ostream &operator <<(ostream &, const string &);
string &operator=(const char *);
};
ostream &operator<<(ostream &stream, const string &s)
{
return(stream << s.ptr);
}
string &string::operator=(const char *chrs)
{
if (this != &chrs)
{
delete [] ptr;
size = strlen(chrs);
ptr = new char[size + 1];
strcpy(ptr, chrs);
}
return(*this);
}
int main()
{
string str;
str = "Hello World";
cout << str << endl;
return(0);
}
 
Apprentice Hacker
===================
#!/usr/local/bin/perl
$msg="Hello, world.\n";
if ($#ARGV >= 0) {
while(defined($arg=shift(@ARGV))) {
$outfilename = $arg;
open(FILE, ">" . $outfilename) || die "Can't write $arg:$!\n";
print (FILE $msg);
close(FILE) || die "Can't close $arg: $!\n";
}
} else {
print ($msg);
}
1;
 
Experienced Hacker
===================
#include <stdio.h>
#define S "Hello, World\n"
main(){exit(printf(S) == strlen(S) ? 0 : 1);}
 
Seasoned Hacker
===================
% cc -o a.out ~/src/misc/hw/hw.c
% a.out
 
Guru Hacker
===================
% cat Hello, world.
^D
 
New Manager
===================
10 PRINT "HELLO WORLD"
20 END
 
Middle Manager
===================
mail -s "Hello, world." bob@b12
Bob, could you please write me a program that prints "Hello, world."?
I need it by tomorrow.
^D
 
Senior Manager
===================
% zmail jim
I need a "Hello, world." program by this afternoon.
 
Chief Executive
===================
% letter
letter: Command not found.
% mail
To: ^X ^F ^C
% help mail
help: Command not found.
% damn!
!: Event unrecognized
% logout