3.2 Interlude

We now have method, madness, and a vague sense of the direction. We are ready to head out on the open code. Let us first take a moment to meditate on what we have covered so far. Start by considering this mental image...

Imagine a cold, rainy autumn day. Still thinking of summer, you have forgotten to wear a jacket. The chill of the rain runs through your entire body as you hurry along the street. You try to keep your neck dry by pulling up your thin sweater and hunching your shoulders. Down the road you spot a caf . It looks warm and bright inside. You quicken your pace, then dash through the door as the drizzly rain becomes more enthusiastic and thunder rumbles in the distance.

The shop is cozy, but not too small. There are potted plants scattered about. Light jazz plays over well-hidden speakers . The clientele are trendy urban business types having quiet, serious discussions in pairs at small tables. Paintings by a local artist hang on the walls.

You step up to the counter. A young woman with a dozen earrings and short-cut hair smiles and asks you what you would like. A nice, hot cup of tea. She reaches down behind the counter and grabs a large white mug. Then she opens a box and pulls out a tea bag that is at least three years old, drops it into the mug, and pours in hot water from the sink. "Three dollars" she says, still smiling.

If you are a coffee drinker, you probably don't understand. Replace "opens a box and pulls out a tea bag" with "opens a jar and scoops out one spoonful of freeze- dried instant" and you will get the point. The point is that details matter. Certainly, an old tea bag in warm water will make a cup of tea... but not one worth drinking. ^[8]

^[8] With a few notable exceptions, this is the way tea is prepared in American caf s. Ick.

Just so, our examples provide some working code but are far from satisfying . If we are going to write something truly enjoyable we need to dig into the details.

Let's get to it.