csua.org/u/he6 -> www.jonathancoulton.com/2006/04/14/thing-a-week-29-code-monkey/
This is not autobiographical, but I did indeed used to have a job writing software. I affectionately referred to myself and my co-developers as code monkeys, especially when a client asked me a question that I didn't want to answer ("What do I know? Now this part is important: tomorrow morning I leave for a week long vacation in a sunny place, and I don't know how easily I'll be able to access the internets. I think it's unlikely I'll be able to get anything posted, so I'm giving you notice now: I'm taking the week off, I think. If I am in fact unable to post anything, I'll refund a dollar to all you paying subscribers. The rest of you will just get nothing for nothing, which seems fair.
April 16th, 2006 at 3:04 pm I swear to God, I have no idea how you not only write a great song each week, but have such fantastic production values. Seriously dude, I'm hitting the tip jar again after Code Monkey.
I noticed that your previous one was released under a creative commons license, but this one was not. Are you planning on continuing to use CC for these pictures?
April 16th, 2006 at 7:32 pm Jon, this was without a doubt the *BEST* description of the geek experience that I've ever heard. The silent defiance of authority figures, the wishes for a simpler life, the social awkwardness and the comfort foods. I can't remember the number of times I've thought "maybe you should just write the goddamn thing yourself!"
However, I think this song is worth two Things-A-Week, and you shouldn't have to refund any money. Nevermind that I'm a cheap SOB who hasn't given you a dime, I just stop by once or twice a week for updates.
It's just too funny how your musice seems to fall along my life right now. The curling (Im not only a fan, but I actually curl), and now code monkey. I've pointed some of my programmer friends to this one, after pointing the Columbus Curling Club members to "Curl" last week.
I am digging at a constant rate, and will eventually reach China or Rocktopia. Rick Springfield meets Pat Benetar meets Jonathan Coulton on the music, there. Beneath the picture, write, "Code Monkey very simple man with big warm fuzzy secret heart" or some other phrase from the song that works. Enjoy the Vaca, Eric PS pronounced with a hard A, like in vacAtion, not a soft a, like the Spanish word for cow.
April 18th, 2006 at 9:30 am QUOTH ERIC: PS pronounced with a hard A, like in vacAtion, not a soft a, like the Spanish word for cow. Hey, you don't know -- he could be, at this very moment, enjoying a Spanish cow.
If there wasn't an anthem of the teems of software engineers and programmers around the world (could still be slashdotted)... I haven't heard much of Jonathan Coultron's stuff but if this is any indication, he is a genius.
April 24th, 2006 at 3:08 pm I was listening to this song on my iPod on a bus on the way to NYC, so I started singing (so I thought) quietly to myself. But then I pulled out a bag of Fritos, and the ten-year-old sitting next to me exclaimed, "CODE MONKEY like Fritos!
April 24th, 2006 at 4:09 pm I hadn't heard of this before a friend started playing it in the campus center to the CS majors, because it was put on slashdot, but once I heard it I must say, this is amazing. suscribed to the podcast and downloaded all the previous ones too, very talented songwriter, and this one's geekiness is just amazing.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:54 pm That is the best song I have heard in a long time. In fact it is my new theme song - replacing "Head Like a Hole" by Nine Inch Nails.
April 24th, 2006 at 6:01 pm Jonathan, Your song is the new anthem of our little gang of programmers at KSU, as well as my new personal anthem (as both a student, and professional programmer). This CodeMonkey get up get coffee, CodeMonkey listen to song, then go to job.
April 24th, 2006 at 7:47 pm Found this through Slashdot and had it running through my head all day. Rare combination of clever (and *very* insightful) lyrics and good music.
I'm not a code monkey (it's worse - I'm a documentation monkey) but a lot of the people I know and love are. Thanks for a bit of humor to ease the stress of an impending release date.
April 24th, 2006 at 10:26 pm What we really need is a black metal song about programmers, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. Still, great song considering the limitations of your chosen genre :p Highly funny song :) ico2 :) 78.
Az nce dinledim ki eglenceli ve hos bir sarki mzik olmus. Az nce de grdm ki Jonathan Coultonun Code Monkey'si wikilenmis. Bir de gzel izim eklemisler ki, su gnlerdeki duygu ve dsncelerimi yeterince aikliyor bu eglencelik seyler.
As a proud code monkey myself, this song is an anthem to all of us. Posted below are the lyrics, and I'll give you a link to the song. Released under the creative commons license, so feel free to share the love!
April 25th, 2006 at 1:12 pm I'm a programmer and I play World of Warcraft. I have a level 60 rogue on the Firetree server named Codemonkey that I have been playing for about 10 months now. Someone on the server showed me a link to your song which we traced back to you.
My only guess is that the positive feedback for the task must be internal. In anycase, there has to be something that makes not just me but thousands of Code Monkey's like me going to work from day to day.
Though we're getting faster with Photoshop, we are undeniably coding monkeys at heart and we recognize that we can't rely upon our judgement alone. Originally, we would ping Seth and a few close friends for feedback. Today, we like to gather everyone's input before making design decisions. We scout the forums, emails, and the blog for recommendations (we've heard the "meebo" button icon has been a source of confusion recently). We also gather different perspectives from within the team. Simon values his computer real estate and prefers thin window borders and frames, Andrea has taken things to a new extreme by asking her daughter's track team to evaluate some new meebo icons, Seth likes things simple and uncomplicated, and Jian has an appreciation for technical details like the slider divider in the IM window.
April 26th, 2006 at 9:15 pm OK, I know you have gotten TONS of praise for this, and I need to share in that. But I also want to know if this is "podsafe" meaning, is it cool to play this in my podcast if I point people to your site? I think my podcast listeners are perfectly suited for this song and I really want to play this at the end of my next show.
I usually listen to classical music, but I know good music of all types when I hear it. After hearing it on the MacCast podcast, I had to get a copy. Enjoyed it so much, I downloaded your album from iTunes.
It is known as Autie Boy and is written by Susan Senator. Did you ever think of getting the Code Monkey lyrics - or a favourite part of the lyrics - on a T-shirt?
April 29th, 2006 at 5:48 am Just heard this on Adam Curry's Dailly Source code #376 Spookily I was in the middle of writting some Java (University assignment). First time I been here, but it ain't going t be the last. Quick question whats the differance between the MP3 link or buying the song?
May 3rd, 2006 at 10:23 am I just got back from a 10 day vacation in Flordia and the Bahamas/Bermuda. Reality is really hard to stomach after relaxing like that.
As a recent forced convert to non-sugared sodas (diabetes), I note that _diet_ Mt Dew (my favorite drink)works as well as "Tab and" Mt Dew. In fact, I think I'll just sing THAT in my head from now on since the rest of the song works so well.
Yes, I am a code monkey, and work with a bunch of other code monkeys - it's a jungle out there... You should have heard the howls of laughter when I played this song at work.
Jonathan Coulton is having a contest for a new cute monkey t-shirt design. For anyone who doesn't work in an IT department, Code Monkey is a term that is often used to refer to someone who does computer programming.
For this over-40-year-old code monkey (who's married and drinks diet coke now), that song takes me right back to my younger, prouder, coding days when I dreamed longingly of every sweet girl I couldn't quite get up the nerve to ask out.
Gotta say I like this song b...
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