Ask HN: If I like programming, what other hobbies would I likely enjoy?

Second weightlifting. Not really similar or left of field, but a good complement. I found it more interesting after I started following a routine and tracking progress on each exercise, trying to optimize nutrients before/after workout, daily macros etc. Optimizing these things is kind of satisfying.

For example, the other day I had to work out after work instead of in the morning, and I had also been encouraged to do some spinning because of a knee issue. I found that I didn't perform well but I don't what caused it exactly: the cardio before lifting, it being late, tiredness from work, eating schedule, the knee, etc. Kind of similar to debugging.

Try bouldering! The perfect combination between problem solving, fitness, and strength.

I have been bouldering for years, and I love that you can go with people from all levels, and everybody is having the same fun trying to succeed at problems. And a beginner that doesn't have the strength to do something can have th brains to show you how to do it.

I have brought many people with me over the years, most engineers / software people get totally hooked for some reason. I think it probably comes from the puzzle aspect of it.

Golf, making math/dead baby jokes, buying textbooks and never reading them, playing a musical instrument, writing fiction.

Lock picking is a technical, logical, and interesting hobby you may enjoy. It's a classic hacker (as in Hacker News) skill. Here's a great line from the absolute classic MIT Guide to Lock Picking [0]:

"The big secret of lock picking is that it's easy. Anyone can learn how to pick locks.

The theory of lock picking is the theory of exploiting mechanical defects."

[0]: http://www.lysator.liu.se/mit-guide/MITLockGuide.pdf

I second this. Climbing exercises your body and mind!