The Developer - A modern fairy tale

Adam couldn't remember his childhood. His memory was completely erased. Or maybe just blocked. Anyway, he couldn't think of anything whenever he tried to think of what might have happened before waking up for the first time in his bed here in the three by three squaremetre cell where he had spent his whole life ever since. His cell had natural light, but the window was so high that he couldn't see out. Apart from that there was a desk with computer, a treadmill and a slit in the cell besides the bed. When Adam first woke up in his bed in that cell, he hadn't found his way for a moment, but that moment had been shortlived. For the computer turned on and a voice sounded that said to Adam, "Welcome! You are Adam and will now be trained by me to be a software developer." Curiously, Adam sat down at his desk and followed the instructions given to him by the voice. The computer taught him, Adam, how to develop programs. Adam enjoyed this job very much. He soon came to the conclusion that computer programming was his destiny and that he would enjoy doing it all his life.

Adam learned quickly, and soon the computer gave him simple tasks to solve. These tasks became more and more difficult, and Adam had to work harder and harder, but he always had success and, associated with it, an enormous feeling of happiness. Adam mastered all tasks with flying colours. Adam was proud of himself. What a life! I can sit at the computer all day and do what I do well: program. From time to time I stand on the treadmill and keep myself physically fit in this way. Three times a day I get food through the slot that keeps me alive. I give the excrement through this slot. A wonderful life! Adam was happy.

That's how it happened day in, day out. Adam woke up, sat down at the computer, received the instructions he had to work on. He worked diligently on it all day, doing sports from time to time, eating meals. Adam was very pleased with his life. He didn't even wonder what it was all about. He didn't even wonder who or what was pushing the food through the slot. The main thing was that he received the food. The work was fun for him and he was happy.

What Adam didn't know was that he had been specifically created to work as a software developer all his life and to perform at his best in this profession. He had been conceived in a test tube and genetically manipulated. He had been equipped with maximum intelligence and the lowest susceptibility to stress. At the same time, he had been programmed in such a way that he had few needs, no need for contact with other people, no questions asked what was outside the cell in which he had to live. Adam was maximally adapted to his task of developing software. The people who had created Adam had decided that it would be better to have the development work done by people made specifically for him than by artificial intelligence. Because human intelligence was still superior to any attempt to create artificial  intelligence. In any case, the intelligence of appropriately programmed, genetically optimized humans. So, for the time being, a biological solution had been chosen.

So Adam lived for many years, was happy and content, had no needs that had not been met. But Adam was a man, and like all men, Adam also came into the years. Adam had never seriously asked himself what would happen if he were sloppy or lazy and did not do his job properly or make a mistake. His innate high intelligence prevented him from even coming up with the idea of being negligent. But as he grew older, Adam's performance inevitably deteriorated. At some point the day came when Adam was no longer able to solve the task assigned to him within the given time limit.

That day, Adam didn't get anything to eat.

The next day Adam also received no food through the slit.

It's never happened before.

Adam immediately realized that there had to be a connection. As a result, he tried to perform better from now on, which increasingly struck him. His capacity was limited. Sometimes he already managed to complete the task scheduled for the day. Then he got food. But often he didn't succeed, so Adam had to starve.

After all, Adam was beside himself with rage for the first time in his life. It couldn't be that I can't do this anymore! It just couldn't be! I have always been able to do that!

But only when Adam was even less able did he think that he could demand to be cared for, although the performance did not correspond to what was given.

"Hello, out there! Whoever you are! I need food to survive! I won't do better if I don't get anything to eat! When I get something again, I will try to do my job as well as possible! But I need food! Without food not even the least is possible".

Such texts Adam typed in his despair. At first there was no reaction. But at some point Adam was apparently heard. Through the slit came regular food again, no matter whether Adam performed the prescribed service or not.

"Thank you. It's good if I can be sure that I'll be provided with food. I will continue to do my best. But the main thing is that I get food, I regain my strength and can be reassured that my existence is secure."

So Adam reached a mature old age and was happy all his life. He always endeavored to achieve the required results; sometimes it worked, sometimes not. He did not come up with the idea of deliberately working sloppily or doing something wrong. Everything went well.

Claus Volko, cdvolko (at) gmail (dot) com