I'm a good programmer because...
...when I see crappy code, or crappy software, I recognize it's crappy and immediately want to fix the crappy code or write a better piece of software.
I got about 3 minutes into this lecture when I realized it (the hint is not very subtle). I guess I had always known that about myself, and knew it was a source of annoyance for me (people who write crappy code annoy me, especially when they know it's crappy), but I had always felt it was really a terrible level of perfectionism or arrogance.
What it actually is, is super important. Without the desire to do better, there would be no creativity, no innovation, no inspiration, and no real purpose.
I'm feeling a lot better about myself already! :-)
Written on February 1, 2009