--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once we were Programmers. Maybe our last…" description: "\"Once we were Programmers. Maybe our last best hope is a movie.\" — Erik Naggum" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/erik-naggum-8459_film_once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last_2664689.png" --- # Once we were Programmers. Maybe our last best hope is a… ![“Once we were Programmers. Maybe our last best hope is a movie.” quote by Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/erik-naggum-8459_film_once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last_2664689.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/erik-naggum-8459_film_once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last_2664689.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/erik-naggum-8459_film_once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last_2664689.png) > “Once we were Programmers. Maybe our last best hope is a movie.” [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author laments the decline of programming as a profession, suggesting film as a last hopeful medium. **In simple terms:** Programming feels fading; film may be a final hope. Key Takeaway Explore new creative outlets as fields evolve. Themes technology career transition hope Mood nostalgic hopeful Type cultural inspirational When to use this quote - career change - creative industries - future of work Key Concepts programming culture media evolution Questions to Reflect On - What skills can transfer from programming to film? - Is there a middle ground between the two? A Different Perspective Film may not replace the depth of programming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hope Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-movie-1128596/) [Hoping for the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoping-for-the-best/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Programmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programmers/) [Programmers Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programmers-maybe-2454883/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) ## Related quotes > [I'm an optimist. I hope if a movie's good that it will be a success, but as we know, that's not always true, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-m-an-optimist-i-hope-if-a-movie-s-good-that-it-will-be-a-success/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [My hope is that this movie will affect people on a very profound level and reach them with a message of faith, hope, love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-gibson/my-hope-is-that-this-movie-will-affect-people-on-a-very-profound/) [Mel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-gibson/) > [Getting C programmers to understand that they cause the computer to do less than minimum is intractable. … Ask him why he thinks he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/getting-c-programmers-to-understand-that-they-cause-the-computer-to/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [You become a serious programmer by going through a stage where you are fully aware of the degree to which you know the specification,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/you-become-a-serious-programmer-by-going-through-a-stage-where-you/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [It's not that Perl programmers are idiots, it's that the language rewards idiotic behavior in a way that no other language or tool has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/it-s-not-that-perl-programmers-are-idiots-it-s-that-the-language/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I believe C++ instills fear in programmers, fear that the interaction of some details causes unpredictable results. Its unmanageable complexity has spawned more fear-preventing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-believe-c-instills-fear-in-programmers-fear-that-the-interaction-of/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I may be biased, but I tend to find a much lower tendency among female programmers to be dishonest about their skills, and thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-may-be-biased-but-i-tend-to-find-a-much-lower-tendency-among-female/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Now that I have the knowledge and I can speak to programmers better and I understand a lot more about what's possible and what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-white/now-that-i-have-the-knowledge-and-i-can-speak-to-programmers-better/) [Shaun White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-white/) > [When I was at college there were two things I vowed I'd never do. One was go to a funeral and the other was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/when-i-was-at-college-there-were-two-things-i-vowed-i-d-never-do-one/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [If you cannot grok the overall structure of a program while taking a shower, you are not ready to code it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-e-pattis/if-you-cannot-grok-the-overall-structure-of-a-program-while-taking-a/) [Richard E. Pattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-pattis/) > [... programming requires more concentration than other activities. It's the reason programmers get upset about 'quick interruptions' - such interruptions are tantamount to asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/programming-requires-more-concentration-than-other-activities-it-s/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [The situation is so much better for programmers today - a cheap used PC, a linux CD, and an internet account, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-situation-is-so-much-better-for-programmers-today-a-cheap-used-pc/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [“Pragmatic Programmers are different. We are driven to find our bugs now, so we don't have to endure the shame of others finding our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hunt/pragmatic-programmers-are-different-we-are-driven-to-find-our-bugs/) [Andrew Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hunt/) > [I think once the artistic world of the type designer merged with the scientific world of the computer programmer, you began to see this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bierut/i-think-once-the-artistic-world-of-the-type-designer-merged-with-the/) [Michael Bierut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bierut/) > [Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we cannot avoid it… If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/programmers-are-always-surrounded-by-complexity-we-cannot-avoid-it-if/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) ## More by Erik Naggum > [Structure is nothing if it is all you got. Skeletons spook people if they try to walk around on their own. I really wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/structure-is-nothing-if-it-is-all-you-got-skeletons-spook-people-if/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The only important property of evils of the past is that they not be repeated in the future, in any way, shape, or form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-only-important-property-of-evils-of-the-past-is-that-they-not-be/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Some people are little more than herd animals, flocking together whenever the world becomes uncomfortable … I am not one of those people. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/some-people-are-little-more-than-herd-animals-flocking-together/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [They don't make poles long enough for me want to touch Microsoft products, and I don't want any mass-marketed game-playing device or Windows appliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/they-don-t-make-poles-long-enough-for-me-want-to-touch-microsoft/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Ignoring for a moment the power of the American Medical Association, we still wouldn't see a huge amount of books on neurosurgery for dummies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/ignoring-for-a-moment-the-power-of-the-american-medical-association/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I have actually programmed a fair bit in Perl, like I have C++ code published with my name on it. Other things I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-actually-programmed-a-fair-bit-in-perl-like-i-have-c-code/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Part of any serious QA is removing Perl code the same way you go over a dilapidated building you inherit to remove chewing gum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/part-of-any-serious-qa-is-removing-perl-code-the-same-way-you-go-over/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I have a cat, so I know that when she digs her very sharp claws into my chest or stomach it's really a sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-a-cat-so-i-know-that-when-she-digs-her-very-sharp-claws-into/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Constructing a social system that tends to those who agree with it is a piece of cake compared to constructing one that makes those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/constructing-a-social-system-that-tends-to-those-who-agree-with-it-is/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [If, however, one factor is too successful, it will continue to be the winning factor regardless of the variation in the other factors over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/if-however-one-factor-is-too-successful-it-will-continue-to-be-the/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [C++ is a language strongly optimized for liars and people who go by guesswork and ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/c-is-a-language-strongly-optimized-for-liars-and-people-who-go-by/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Gotos aren't damnable to begin with. If you aren't smart enough to distinguish what's bad about some gotos from all gotos, goto hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/gotos-aren-t-damnable-to-begin-with-if-you-aren-t-smart-enough-to/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [I have come to believe that large print, thick and heavy paper, and wide margins and oversize leading is indicative of the expected intelligence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-come-to-believe-that-large-print-thick-and-heavy-paper-and/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The fundamental deficiency in HTML is that it reduces hypertext and the intertwinedness of human communication to a question of how it is rendered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-fundamental-deficiency-in-html-is-that-it-reduces-hypertext-and/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [The currency in the developer community is enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/the-currency-in-the-developer-community-is-enthusiasm/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) [Explore all 80 Erik Naggum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) ## More Film quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) [Browse all 32,254 Film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once we were Programmers. Maybe our last best hope is a movie.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik Naggum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last-best-hope-is-a-movie/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Film" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last-best-hope-is-a-movie/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/erik-naggum-8459_film_once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last_2664689.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/erik-naggum-8459_film_once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last_2664689.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2db/erik-naggum-8459_film_once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last_2664689.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Once we were Programmers. Maybe our last best hope is a movie.” — Erik Naggum", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erik Naggum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Once we were Programmers. Maybe our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last-best-hope-is-a-movie/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/once-we-were-programmers-maybe-our-last-best-hope-is-a-movie/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```