in reply to What obfuscation can teach
There is a difference between creative programming and problem oriented programming. Both are creative activities in one sense, but the means and the goal are entirely different.
In "problem oriented programming", you have a particular, application specific goal you want to reach. You have to think in terms of the application domain and the application (or at least it's highly beneficial to do it that way), and somehow find a program that solves the problem you have. The end is more important than the means.
In "creative programming", the goal is fixed. Whether it is fixed to "a JAPH" or "a better plotting algorithm" doesn't matter, because the important thing is the means. You try to find not only a program, but the program, the best there is (with respect to criteria you restrict yourself with). The end doesn't matter as long as the journey is enlightening.
Writing JAPHs lets you focus on technique and methodology. The produce is irrelevant; no-one uses other people's JAPHs, except if they embark on the same journey. The real value is what you go through when writing it.
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print "Just Another Perl Adept\n";
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