I like the anvil because I often use the phrase "banging out code." In fact, creating software is a lot like creating a sword. You get a rough shape, then you refine it until you have a really sharp edge. Forge itself means to "Move forward gradually or steadily", exactly how swords and software are made (good ones).
I can't
really draw, so I tried to google for this and found
http://www.fotosearch.com/CSP203/k2035148/ which goes into the
direction I had in mind. A character would also give a nice mascot.