Not to long ago I mentioned to Michelle that I felt that I was missing something when writing code. At the time I would do what was required to get the project complete, but could not get myself lost in the process. While evangelising I often mention that being a developer is about passion. The want to create something useable. I was also asked to describe to someone what attracts me to writing code. The simplest analogy I could find was the following:

Artist uses paint, colours and materials to create artwork from a solid block of stone or to draw images stored in their minds. Developers uses code to take an idea and make it usable and workable solution on a computer. The difference is that artists become famous, and developers just move on to the next project. Among us there are our own Michelangelo's. However to achieve these results requires a very important ingredient which without simply makes the results of a developer’s efforts mediocre. The ingredient required is know as passion. The ability to escape into a zone and place where the only important aspect is the connection between the developer and keyboard, and the resulting code on the screen, no matter how simple or complex, known or unknown. This is an ability I had been lacking at the time, the childish enthusiasm for finding a solution to a problem and being able to spend a few hours a day writing the code.

I had left the development field for a bit and decided to try my hand at training, another passion I have. I spend around 8 months in which time I became certified and a MCT. However I was missing the code, and could not get myself motivated to even write small projects. When I joined the Mr Price Group I was thrown into SharePoint. I slowly started building up the excitement for code, wanting to get to work and actually work on a problem, find a solution and implement the code for the solution. A few weeks back I decided to overhaul Diago.co.za. Since I have been on a non stop coding streak which as both surprised and scared me. Suddenly for hours I can sit and work on a problem, write lines and lines of code and watch the end result with childish excitement.

My passion for development and coding is back. In full force. I have successfully completed a project for work, started doing some patches and feature enhancement for the SubText and also started doing new prototypes for a third party website I support. I have discovered JQuery, fallen in love with REST web services and learned the power of Linq. I am spending hours thinking of ways to improve and better the last implementation of code that I’ve written and bouncing ideas of anyone willing to listen.

I have found the missing link in my career and I am excited and happy. After months of doubt I am finally convinced that coding is something I love, and I can’t wait to see where I am going to go next.