Music and Code: More Similar Than We Think?

4 points by velocitatem 2y ago ↗ HN

I've always felt a subtle connection between the logic-driven world of coding and the emotion-rich experience of enjoying music. They both seem to dance on the fine line of structure and freedom. This sparked a thought - does my enjoyment of music sharpen my coding skills? Or does the analytical nature of coding enhance my appreciation for music? I'm curious to know if anyone else here finds a similar correlation between these two :]

5 comments

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velocitatem 2y ago ↗

Some interesting takes: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/composing-code-why-musici_b_1... https://www.birdwellmusic.com/articles/the-relationship-betw...

[dead] javalavaklava 2y ago ↗

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cloogshicer 2y ago ↗

I have similar feelings. I think programming is much more art than science.

There's a talk by Rich Hickey where he compares programming languages to musical instruments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCwqnjxqfmY

progfolio 2y ago ↗

Be specific. You don't really give any examples for why or how one would influence the other. If you've got both bouncing around in your skull, of course they do. It's a question of how and to what degree.

It's also interesting that you've framed it as "enjoying music" (consumption) and "coding" (production). Would "enjoying software" make one a better musician or composer?

> They both seem to dance on the fine line of structure and freedom.

This could apply to almost anything.

broadwayinc 2y ago ↗

I am (or was) a professional music producer, had great carrier in my 20s ~ mid 30s. Also produced couple of national hit songs with famous singers (South Korea). Now I'm working on my own company as a CEO and lead server engineer. I can surely tell you, coding is more like an art than science. If you deeply know how to 'enjoy' good music, that, can also make you a good music producer as well. What makes a great music? is having a same lame solid pattern and structures over and over again but able to implement unusual unpredictable element at some points. And I believe that approach also applies when writing a good code as well.