24 August 06
Back in the day, when I was about 17, I bought a book called PHP and MySQL for dummies. It was the first time I’d read any proper computer book. Before reading it, I’d done a few very basic HTML sites, complete with font tags and tables galore like all sites back then, but I didn’t really know about dynamic sites. I’d heard of PHP – it was the thing that went on the end of some web addresses. So once I picked it up in a bookshop in the middle of Stockport and started reading, I was hooked to the possibilities of my own dynamic site.
I took the book home, read it all night, and did as many examples as physically possible. It was so exciting, all the new things I’d learnt. I used to stay awake at night thinking of all the things PHP could let me achieve. In particular, I remember being still awake at 4am thinking how I could make a discussion board with PHP.
That spark of excitement from knowledge from anything in life feels so good. The thrill of all this new information making sense in your tiny little brain. Amazing.
Currently, I’m at a bit of a creative low, call it lethargy if you will. You may have noticed my blog posts becoming fewer and further between. I think the last time I had that spark was reading the Rails book, so I feel that I need to be doing something different. Something new and fresh to keep my mind active and stop the inertia creeping in.
My question is this. What have you done recently that’s given you that same spark? What’s made your brain go into overdrive and think about nothing else? It doesn’t have to be about programming either, I’m completely open to all suggestions.
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Rather embarassingly, I only get this with computer games there days, although reading your post I know exactly what you mean. I read PHP 4.0 (big red book with 5 geeks on the front) and got really worked up about making an e-commerce system back in 2001.. hehe! Perl also got me rather hot under the collar.
These days, mainly a game called Guild Wars (http://www.guildwars.com/) makes me go nuts, and the occassional game in between.
Kit: I know exactly what you mean about taking a break. Whenever I’ve been out all weekend and not stuck on the computer, I’ve always felt better. Maybe, something to consider over the bank holiday then!
Thayer: Haha, I’ve been busy playing Worms Armageddon recently, just to relax. Cartoon violence seems to solve a lot of problems!
coke.
not the right answer i’m sure, but that’s what’s been doing it for me this weekend.
Yeah, I have a bit of a coke addiction going on, slowly being curbed though… luckily, it’s not the bad sort of coke, just the fizzy versions…
Learning the DOM and how to manipulate webpages on the fly with database information using Ajax techniques. That really got me buzzin about a year back! Since then… nothing all that much actually. Im gonna have to get a new hobby I reckon…
Coke, yes, I meant the fizzy kind.
I reckon everyone in the biz should have an offline hobby (knitting, anyone?) – it helps keep the tech stuff in perspective, and definitely good for keeping the spark alive. Mine, very sporadically, is boat-building. Small boats – very small ones.
Comment by Kitsimons on 25 August 2006, 08:35
A week, or even a weekend away somewhere normally does it for me. Somewhere where you can’t get at a computer. I find when I’m totally detached from work and relaxing (or trying to relax) the spark invariably hits at some point.
The only problem then is waiting a few days to get home before being able to do anything about it…