Geek Gift Guide #O(N): Programmers

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By Sterling “Chip” Camden
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

We programmers can be a hard lot to buy gifts for, because we often have extremely precise requirements for our gear and software (not to mention strongly held opinions about certain brands).  Besides, if we want something, we usually just go ahead and buy it instead of waiting for the holidays.

But some developer desires are nearly universal.  What programmer do you know who doesn’t consume large quantities of caffeinated beverages, or enjoy a geeky programming joke?  This mug from zazzle is for them:

Mug

The syntax works as either C# or Java, although there are some hints that C# may have been intended (can you spot them?).  Not recommended for a Lisper, Rubyist, or Pythonista – every time they’d look at it they’d have to point out how it could be rewritten as a one-liner in their language.

If your beloved geek is a web developer (and who isn’t these days?) you might consider this one instead:

CSS mug

Speaking of CSS, it makes a great segue to another favorite programmer consumable:  T-shirts.  Ah, T-shirts, the programmer uniform.  I don’t know about others, but my Monday shirt usually lasts about six months before it needs to be replaced.  Here’s one I wouldn’t mind wearing:

ninja shirt

It even contains a Ninja reference!  Which leads, of course, to an idea that is certain to please any programmer:  xkcd merchandise.  I particularly like this T-shirt design:

Untitled

which is, of course, based on one of my favorite xkcd strips.

Books about programming are another popular item, but first be certain that the one you select isn’t already sitting on their shelf behind a pile of DVDs, circuit boards and ribbon cables. Here’s a classic that they probably don’t own and have likely never read – Knuth’s Art of Computer Programming:

It’s a bit pricey for the boxed set, but it sure looks impressive on the shelf.  For other classics, it’s hard to beat anything on Jeff Atwood’s list of Recommended Reading for Developers.

Even though I don’t generally recommend buying software for programmers (it’s sort of like buying a violin for Antonio Stradivari, and most of the good stuff is free anyway), there is one little utility that I use a lot.  It’s well worth the $29.95 USD to anyone who does user interface design:  Screen Calipers from Iconico.

This handy tool is available for Windows or Mac.  You can drag it around, change the orientation, and slide the caliper open and closed to measure any screen element.

A final idea, if all else fails:  give your geek a gift certificate to their favorite online store.

What did I miss, fellow programming geeks?  What are you hoping to find in your stocking this year?


6 Responses to Geek Gift Guide #O(N): Programmers

  1. You forgot to list Perler under language users who could replace the mug code with a one-liner (and is Python able to do /anything/ in one line?)

    Also XKCD is no longer a universal programmers’ favourite, it has become much less funny, starting, probably coincidentally, with the Perl to Python conversion comic. Note also the difference between the t-shirt you feature and the comic it was based on, spot the missing language famous for its text parsing ability.

    • There are lots of languages I could have included in that list. I’ll probably get flamed by the Schemers and MLers, too. But you’re right, Perl is the canonical one-liner language. I didn’t think of it because I now tend to use Ruby for everything for which I used to use Perl.

  3. Too funny! I loved this. And I had to laugh out loud because it is so true that programmers will just go ahead and buy what they want without waiting for the holidays. My husband’s family complains every year that he is so hard to buy for and that is exactly why. I may have to point them in the direction of this post. :)