Why do we program vs. Why did we choose to program?

For so many years I have wondered what drives us (as programmers) to continue, to push ourselves and the programming barriers. And for many years I just kind of assumed that it was because people just needed a job and this was one that dealt with computers. But once I got out of college and into my first position in my first post collegiate job I realized that the question that was hounding most of us was why do we program?

Why do we program, it's a question that I've pondered so many times in the past few years I've been working. But as I continue it's not technically the question that I was looking for; the answer to this question is extremely simple, because there is a market for applications. I discovered this while I was working as a Security Analyst. The programmers that develop our applications continue to create and innovate based on what the market and the users want. I made this discovery right before I switched to be an Operational Intelligence Engineer which was putting me more into a development role.

At that time, it became very apparent that the actual question that I was looking for was Why did we choose to program. This is my current question that I am looking into as it deals more with the start of why we choose to program versus why we continue to program. Everyone has their own reasons of why they started programming it's a very interesting question for everyone to ponder.

One reason that people start is because of the job market, many people get into programming because of the possibilities of making lots of money (more especially within the consultation realm). But if you just wanted to make lots of money why go with programming? Why not go with a doctor or a lawyer? The answer is that we all have an interest in what computers can do.

The very thought of technology being bigger and badder than it was a year ago makes us all even more interested than we were before. I believe that deep down inside we all have a connection to discover how close to actual human intelligence we can program a computer. That I believe is the answer to the actual question of why did we choose to program, we are all interested in the creation of (in some form or fashion) A.I.