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Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

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Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#351

Post by bitexploder »

collyw wrote: post #146
bitexploder wrote: post #35

I will share one that has served me well for over 20 years: learn RDBMS and SQL. Learn normal forms, good schema design, and how to write complex queries. NoSQL adopters often avoided schemas like the plague and ended up with unmaintainable messes after a few years. I have seen more than a few NoSQL -> SQL conversions by now. Data is the most important thing in your app. Give it a great design. Plus databases like Po…

Agreed, though interviews seem to focus on trendy framework of the month plus some random algorithm that I learned 20 years ago then forgot as I never needed it.

Same as it has always been. Experienced teams will always value the right things. Just have to learn when to play the game and what game to play :)

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#352

Post by brodouevencode »

butler14 wrote: post #317
cpursley wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The health risks of not doing deadlifts far outweigh the risk of doing them. It's the only thing that has resolved my back pain and improved my posture. Disclaimer: hire a trainer to learn the correct form

this is probably one of the most absurd comments I've ever read on HN

How so? When done properly they are great for lower body and back strength.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#353

Post by 49para »

Tehchops wrote: post #268
mattrp wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> - Build something. A new workbench for your office. Fix up an old car. Build a pull-up bar in your garage. Use your hands, cut some wood and metal, and treat yourself to a new tool or two. Be careful... my wife gave me a drill one year and I’ve since renovated two houses and now have a small fortune in tools. If you don’t have a garage, basement or backyard for it, your local community college might have a “maker l…

I always found the "idea" of that kind of work enticing. However, once I owned a house and had to do renovating/updating, I ultimately found it frustrating. Some jobs are incredibly frustrating if you don't have the exact tool to make it easier. The likelihood the angles and geometry of your home are square is, IME, near 0. Even measuring and re-measuring multiple times, I end up with a lot of wasted, mis-cut materia…

It usually is a wash to pay someone THE FIRST TIME, then after its more or less free. (Caveat : assuming your time is free)

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#354

Post by jpamata »

LaGrange wrote: post #107
dmichulke wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Hi , my name is .. . What you've been up today?" - Start conversion with something you notice about the other person, the event, the surroundings ("the color of your watch matches with your sweater - stylish!", "is this stuff boring or is it just me?", "you know why they put that thing over there?") - Topics: Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams - Repeat the last few words of the other person and look asking. The…

> "Hi , my name is .. . What you've been up today?" ...why is this guy randomly talking to me? Are they selling something? > - Start conversion with something you notice about the other person, the event, the surroundings ("the color of your watch matches with your sweater - stylish!", "is this stuff boring or is it just me?", "you know why they put that thing over there?") ...oh god, this is boring... > - Topics: Fa…

> ...why is this guy randomly talking to me? Are they selling something?

People assume that even at networking, social gatherings, or speed dating events. Doesn't matter what their initial impression is as you can change their later impression.

> ...oh god, this is boring...

That can be said for anything. The point is to make them contribute and prevent a one-sided conversation.

> ...this is wildly veering _super_ boring and way too personal.

That's why progression matters. You can also refrain from asking them directly, like for example: "let me guess, you're an arts student/interior designer" Most people would correct your assumption, and now you're talking about occupation. Or you can segway that to recreation "I could've sworn that you're the (assumed occupation) type. You seem like you do plenty of (activity related to assumed occupation)" The person would again correct the assumption, or if not, you can change the subject or push through. Either ask directly "so what do you do instead?" or share a detail about yourself/the subject that'd bait the person into asking or sharing theirs.

> ...Axe murder...

Most people respond friendly. If they are part of the contrary, move on.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#355

Post by cgh »

dsego wrote: post #212
kerkeslager wrote: post #9

Starting conversations with strangers. Squat and deadlift. Eating healthier. Doing something kind for someone else every day. Honesty. Listening to people you disagree with. Driving safer (this is the most dangerous thing we do on a regular basis). Meditation.

I would never recommend deadlifts. Those are really dangerous and easy to do wrong. My friend shattered his spine doing deadlifts and needed surgery and months of recovery and he still can't bend down or sit in certain positions.

The solution is to use a hex bar, which centres the weight under the hips and removes the health concerns related to poor technique. There is simply no exercise substitute for picking up really heavy things and everyone, particularly women, should do it regularly.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#356

Post by vga805 »

cgh wrote: post #334
kerkeslager wrote: post #9

Starting conversations with strangers. Squat and deadlift. Eating healthier. Doing something kind for someone else every day. Honesty. Listening to people you disagree with. Driving safer (this is the most dangerous thing we do on a regular basis). Meditation.

All great suggestions that sound easy but are not. For the exercise part, I'd say deadlifts and overhead press.

better yet, squat presses and deadlifts

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#357

Post by jakehilborn »

butler14 wrote: post #317
cpursley wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The health risks of not doing deadlifts far outweigh the risk of doing them. It's the only thing that has resolved my back pain and improved my posture. Disclaimer: hire a trainer to learn the correct form

this is probably one of the most absurd comments I've ever read on HN

It's not an absurd statement. Deadlifts improve so much musculature in your body which resolves/prevents injury. I had a 3+ year long knee injury from running and the only remedy was heavy squats. I was considering surgery and experimental stem cell injections since nothing was working. Thankfully I tried strength training before the alternatives.

It's important that people understand proper deadlift form though. It's a bit more complicated than just picking the barbell up off the ground.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#358

Post by tonyedgecombe »

Tehchops wrote: post #268
mattrp wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> - Build something. A new workbench for your office. Fix up an old car. Build a pull-up bar in your garage. Use your hands, cut some wood and metal, and treat yourself to a new tool or two. Be careful... my wife gave me a drill one year and I’ve since renovated two houses and now have a small fortune in tools. If you don’t have a garage, basement or backyard for it, your local community college might have a “maker l…

I always found the "idea" of that kind of work enticing. However, once I owned a house and had to do renovating/updating, I ultimately found it frustrating. Some jobs are incredibly frustrating if you don't have the exact tool to make it easier. The likelihood the angles and geometry of your home are square is, IME, near 0. Even measuring and re-measuring multiple times, I end up with a lot of wasted, mis-cut materia…

The problem I find is if you aren't doing it regularly everything takes three times as long as a it would take a contractor.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#360

Post by TheHegemon »

nautilus12 wrote: post #330
localhost wrote: post #291

I would say focus on building a solid, functional body vs. say focusing on goals like "how much can I lift?" or "how much do I weigh?" or "how fast can I go?". Those goals, while laudable, can also cause you to break down your body in your quest to achieve them. An example from literally yesterday. Over the past few months, I struggled with medial knee pain that was limiting my ability to walk up stairs and do other…

Rock climbing and/or swimming are great ways to achieve these goals. The nature of the sports are such that it pushes the body hollistically. Plus rock climbing is fun and mentally challenging, like chess with your body.

I would second this. I took up bouldering and it's amazing how much more energy I have. My lower-back pain from sitting has nearly disappeared.

It's a true full-body workout (including the brain).

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