Hello World!

I start at my default, a mindset that sees the empty post as a chance. The Hello World programming tradition shares my viewpoint.

Hello World is a beginner’s program which computer science professor Brian Kernighan made famous in the book C Programming Language, a book he co-authored with computer scientist Dennis Ritchie.

In an interview, Kernighan recalled a cartoon showing a small chick emerging from a hatched shell as the program’s inspiration. He said the illustration’s caption read hello world.

A chick has the innate ability to become a full-grown bird, maybe a bird that flies. Code can become software.

A Hello World program or Hello World post acknowledges creative potential.

A year ago, I took my first paddle surf lesson. My legs started shaking ten minutes into the hour-long lesson. Several times the rolling surf rocked me off balance. I’d lose my footing on the board then fall into the water.

I managed to catch one wave towards the lesson’s end. When I got to shore, I collapsed into the beach chair next to my wife, Lynn.

Lynn’s sandals on Florida’s Atlantic coast.

“I knew you would catch a wave,” she said, looking me in the eye. “I want you to just go for it on something like surfing. Take more risks!”

Both paddle surfing and my wife were telling me something. When I see potential, I need to take a chance.

It’s time to write!

Hello world!