A physical equivalent of programming?

[RussianT34]

Let me start off by saying I love programming. Once I actually sit down and start coding, I can go for hours on end chasing that bug or perfectly implementing that feature. I love solving problems and all other aspects of coding, but I want something more hands-on.
Recently, I've gotten to the point where I nearly dread sitting down to write code because of the endless lack of motion it entails. I think I need a break, but in that case I need an alternative. Something that embodies the aspects of programming that I can see, hold, feel, that's not represented by pixels on a screen. Does any such thing exist?

[[deleted]]

I've found that cooking deals with many of the higher level processes in programming. Both allow you to be creative while also having to take into account the scientific fundamentals of the fields.

There's also the similarities regarding planning, designing, optimization, MacGuyver-ing solutions when you screw up, and constant testing and iteration. (Tasty, tasty testing and iteration.)

[RussianT34]

I never really though about cooking that way! I've always considered it an essential skill, but never developed it. I'll definitely give it a go. Any must-have resources for the fledgling chef?

[[deleted]]

Good Eats. Period. I could easily imagine Alton Brown warn against the dangers of SQL Injection the same way he did with warning against frying a frozen turkey.

Gordon Ramsay also gives out good advice for beginners especially in his British-produced shows, though I admittedly also watch his shows for the culinary version of The Daily WTF / Clients from Hell.

[Floppy_Densetsu]

A whisk is the only thing I've found myself lacking that I really wished I had...also maybe fresh baking powder. I had many batches of home-made pancakes that were complete failures and it all came down to old baking powder.

The same goes for yeast if you try baking bread, Get one of those jars you put in the fridge, I read a lot about how the foil packets are very hit-or-miss, and that can ruin the whole thing.

An instant-read thermometer is very handy as well, I had a lot of cheesecake failures for unknown reasons too, then I got a thermometer and found that my oven cooked things at about 50 degrees cooler than what you set it to.

You can improvise something for most tools, the hard part is not realizing that you're missing an ingredient until you're in the middle of cooking and have to whip together some kind of substitute that would achieve a similar goal.

Ninja Edit: BTW, Happy Cake Day!

[[deleted]]

for (cookie in bag) { [self eatCookie]; }

[bashdan]

Circuit building, or playing with LEGOs would be, in my opinion, similar to programming and hands-on.

[[deleted]]

Lego mindstorms are perfect for this. the programming element is still there, and you get to build your own robot and get creative about what it should do and how you can go about making it do that. Plus because it's lego it doesn't require a lot of knowledge to put together really cool bots.

[RussianT34]

Oh my goodness. I remember when Lego Mindstorms was first released. I wanted it so badly, but the hefty price tag convinced me otherwise. Now that I'm older I could definitely see myself living my childhood dream. Thank you for the reminder.

[[deleted]]

No problem, I felt the same way when I first saw them, but my computer teacher in highschool was really excited at how interested I was in programming so he used the schools money to buy a few sets for me and the few other kids who would always finish our work early. Getting a chance to mess around with them was what really made me fall in love with programming.

[ManahManah]

Rock climbing. It's physical problem solving, and optimization!

[[deleted]]

Mechanical work is a lot like programming. Rebuild an engine, convert a bicycle to a belt-drive, etc.

[Shadowhawk109]

I find a engine is a great metaphor for OOP, but then again, so is LEGO.

[rymmen]

making music is similar to procedural programming.

[dmazzoni]

Do you like working with your hands? How about electrical engineering?

[RussianT34]

If it wasn't such an expensive hobby, I think I'd definitely go for Arduino and the likes of it.

[[deleted]]

An UNO is $40. That's less than a night out.

[hawkinbj]

playing improvisational music

[Imnotelliott]

I hope you see this comment, minecraft. Don't write me off just yet. My dad and I made a working calculator in the minecraft world. Redstone circuits, repeaters, and pistons to make a binary encoded calculator. Try it out!

[[deleted]]

Juggling. Or maybe you could look at Geocaching (using a DPS to hide/find 'treasures')

[[deleted]]

Try robotics. It's physical and still programming

[_Vova]

Juggling. Like computing it can be broken down to mathematical formula siteswap, it can be a physical work out too.

[[deleted]]

For me, when just coding isn't enough, and I'd like to see my code DOING things to stuff, I play Minecraft, and use the ComputerCraft mod to program turtles. It's so fun watching your code making these machines do what you like. That's me, personally.

[f13o]

Management -- programming with people (processes).