Programmers are functional artists.

If we define art as the creative act of bringing an idea to life, coupled with its contemplation by others, then programming is a very special kind of art.

The beauty lies in how a simple line of code reveals one's thought process in solving a problem.

You can brute-force your way to sorting a list of arrays, or you can index the array with a pattern that makes it more efficient.

It's ironic that "elegant code" has a positive impact on businesses. Have you ever worked with legacy systems or spaghetti code? I have, and if any type of code is art, then that type is abstract expressionism.

Functional artists are programmers who solve problems in a unique and elegant way. This approach makes code easier to maintain and update, a characteristic desired by any company that has code in its DNA.

But like any creative act that transcends into art for the contemplation of viewers, the essence lies in simplicity amid complexity. The Linux kernel is a great example.

A line of code can also destroy or enhance an entire program. Beyond the efficiency and novelty of programming, code must also be reliable for users and scalable to meet demand.

It is a unique type of art that exists not just for mere contemplation but for the sustainability of digital civilization.