What makes a good programmer?

[j.crater]

Recently on a local tech forum, someone posted a message which said something along the lines of:
"Folks these days think that if you know how to make for loops and while loops, you are a programmer."

This of course is a very much exaggerated sentece. Yet I doubt there is a clear definition of what makes a good programmer. And oftentimes I think that if you ask a programmer/engineer that question, he will describe himself Besides, so much depends on the specific field/subject, language and tools.

Anyway, I would like you, professional programmers (present or past), to answer this question with how you see things:
What makes a good programmer?

[Larz60+]

Quick witted enthusiasm, coke and twinkies

[j.crater]

Isn't that what makes jolly diabetic Santa?
Anyhow, thanks for the comment. Any deeper insights are still welcome.

[Larz60+]

the ' Quick witted enthusiasm ' is probably the most important of all.
other traits:

• Quick witted enthusiasm
  
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new  concepts.
  
• Knowing when to ask for help, especially when trying to understand what the code is expected to do.
  
• Drive to work extra hours for no other reason than to see something work.
  
• discipline of creating a master plan of the software and test routines prior to writing main code
  
• Ability to work with others, see the value of their contributions, and listen to their ideas, while also having The ability to recognize when these ideas (above point) won't work and gently explaining why, and your ideas on what might work.
  
• Ability to see a project to completion, with code that is efficient and well tested.
  

I'm sure there are many things left out, but when I was still hiring, I would never hire anyone if I didn't see the enthusiasm.

[nilamo]

I know people who call themselves programmers because they write html/css (but never javascript).

Also, since when is cocaine a regular part of software engineering?

[Larz60+]

Oh, thay took that out back in 1903 see: http://southernmemoriesandupdates.com/st...t-formula/