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How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

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Re: How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

#61

Post by avar »

bgurupra wrote: post #52
edw519 wrote: post #16

From what I've seen, there's just no crossing the skill chasm as a software developer. You've either got it, or you don't. No amount of putting your nose to the grindstone will change that. What a scary thought. Good thing it's not true. One of the many reasons I became a programmer was that the sky was the limit. Still is. Want to learn something new? Learn it. Want to build something cool? Build it. The only real l…

The whole idea that we try so hard to believe in "Everybody is born equal and we are the masters of our destiny" maybe be evolutionary in nature .I was reading a book introducing evolution (and I forget the name but can dig it up if somebody wants the source) that individuals of a species sometimes start working together in such cohesion that they no longer are really individuals but are combined into one "social org…

Your notion about bees cooperating isn't the accepted view in modern biology. The Selfish Gene does a good job of explaining why this isn't the case, there's a lot of competition going on within a bee hive.

Re: How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

#62

Post by podperson »

edw519 wrote: post #16

From what I've seen, there's just no crossing the skill chasm as a software developer. You've either got it, or you don't. No amount of putting your nose to the grindstone will change that. What a scary thought. Good thing it's not true. One of the many reasons I became a programmer was that the sky was the limit. Still is. Want to learn something new? Learn it. Want to build something cool? Build it. The only real l…

It's funny how someone like Bill Gates or your college math professor can make the observation that many people just aren't as good at some thing as others and you decide they're simply idiots, but you, who have accomplished so much and acquired so much wisdom, know differently.

When I was a kid, I played soccer every day, as often as I could. I loved it. And I never got particularly good. But when I started programming I was soon better than my peers, my teachers, and anyone I knew or could find to talk to.

But I guess my soccer coach was just an idiot.

Re: How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

#63

Post by tomjen3 »

mattgreenrocks wrote: post #20
wyclif wrote: post #3

You can only complement and enhance your existing programming skills by branching out. A big part of that branching out in my opinion is expanding vistas in areas unrelated to engineering, like reading good literature, creating or appreciating art, and travel.

I've wondered if engineering/CS undergrads should be forced to take a Design 101 class to learn: * design is everywhere * having a sense of taste is vital to anyone who makes things * end users are severely affected by every design decision you make I run into too many engineers that try to disregard the subjective aspects of development (architecture/UX/etc) because they believe the only worthwhile things are the lo…

I don't think the engineers disregarded everything that is not based on logic, but any good engineer will disregard everything that somebody believes, feels or thinks is the right solution unless they can give a good, well reasoned argument.

Most design people aren't happy about that level of scrutiny, but that is something they should do, as it will improve their craft.

Re: How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

#64

Post by xom »

danielharan wrote: post #51
Chirono wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The common trait I've seen in all exceptional programmers is an ability to keep a tremendous number of details in memory at one time Would you care to elaborate on this? I'm a programmer with 'precise and mathematical mind' and I'd say that my one big weakness is exactly that: I struggle to large numbers of disconnected facts in my head at one time.

Same here - the best could just read APIs and start using them, while I was always referring back to them. I've started meditation again; dual n-backed games are next to try and improve my working memory and concentration. Also, just regularly re-reading the core APIs I'm working with.

On the usefulness of N-back (scroll to heading "Notes from the author"):

http://gwern.net/DNB%20FAQ

Re: How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

#66

Post by afroisalreadyin »

cageface wrote: post #7
szany wrote: post #2

"When, in the late sixties, it became abundantly clear that we did not know how to program well enough, people concerned with Programming Methodology tried to figure out what a competent programmer's education should encompass. As a result of that effort programming emerged as a tough engineering discipline with a strong mathematical flavour. This conclusion has never been refuted, many, however, have refused to draw…

Some of the most productive programmers I've known toss code together in a horrifying slapdash fashion but somehow get great things done. And sometimes people with far more precise and mathematical minds just get mired in their beautiful architectures. The common trait I've seen in all exceptional programmers is an ability to keep a tremendous number of details in memory at one time. Most real world code is not lambd…

thank you, i have a new motto.

Re: How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

#67

Post by shahan »

podperson wrote: post #62
edw519 wrote: post #16

From what I've seen, there's just no crossing the skill chasm as a software developer. You've either got it, or you don't. No amount of putting your nose to the grindstone will change that. What a scary thought. Good thing it's not true. One of the many reasons I became a programmer was that the sky was the limit. Still is. Want to learn something new? Learn it. Want to build something cool? Build it. The only real l…

It's funny how someone like Bill Gates or your college math professor can make the observation that many people just aren't as good at some thing as others and you decide they're simply idiots, but you, who have accomplished so much and acquired so much wisdom, know differently. When I was a kid, I played soccer every day, as often as I could. I loved it. And I never got particularly good. But when I started programm…

It's hard for you to be wrong. If someone with zero programming talent does become really good, you could just say that they did have talent after all.

Re: How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

#68

Post by notyourwork »

dionidium wrote: post #60
mquander wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a hilarious remark: We are not like basketball players or musicians or chess masters where only the extremely gifted (who also work hard) can rise to the top of their craft. With few exceptions, we all can. I have no idea why, in the same breath as you disclaim the necessity of inborn talent for computer programming, you reaffirm that necessity for some arbitrary skills that you plucked out of nowhere. You ha…

OK, but the reference to athletics is valid. There are outliers -- Muggsy Bogues or Dustin Pedroia -- but there's a reason that most professional pitchers are 6'2''. You can't get taller, no matter how hard you try.

Also a reason why pro baseball players are usually born in January.

Re: How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

#69

Post by drzaiusapelord »

rickmb wrote: post #11

This article just confirms my notion that in the debate about "what makes a great programmer" there is a fundamental disconnect between the concepts of being "a programmer" and being "a maker of software". Making software consists of way more than just programming, and in that respect I agree with Atwood. However, that ignores two other things I consider to be proven truths: 1. You don't have to be a great programmer…

This is such a good point. I've noticed that the personality style of "algorithm obsessed, Knuth worshiping, all about optimization, hardcore coder" doesn't have a lot in common with "creative, new software, good UI, unique application builder" personality. While its important to have some of the former under your belt, its the latter that gets shit done and makes things. I consider myself a maker, not a coder or a computer scientist. I'm getting a little sick of the attitude that you need to be this hotshot coder to be into software. Its just this geek macho poseur mentality that's harmful. A mediocre coder with a few good ideas is all it takes. I'd rather see a slow python app or a simple web app that's unique than some super-fast C or low-level me-too implementation.

I feel this dichotomy is typical of geeks. My poor metaphor is we learn the notes, scales, and do our practices, but at the end of the day we're supposed to be writing songs, not waxing philosophic on music theory or who makes the best pianos. Geeks are just too prone to being "technically correct, the best kind of correct!" and those of us who want to create unique things really need to think more like artists than engineers half the time. Oh well, back to our typical barrage of "Why PHP sucks" and "real coders walk like this..." articles

Re: How To Become A Better Programmer By Not Programming

#70

Post by Apocryphon »

ayanb wrote: post #21
edw519 wrote: post #16

From what I've seen, there's just no crossing the skill chasm as a software developer. You've either got it, or you don't. No amount of putting your nose to the grindstone will change that. What a scary thought. Good thing it's not true. One of the many reasons I became a programmer was that the sky was the limit. Still is. Want to learn something new? Learn it. Want to build something cool? Build it. The only real l…

> 'They never learned right in the first place.' I can relate this to a game of Table Tennis. A guy I know played lousy for two decades, his technique never improved. Then one day he got hold of a masterful neighbor who taught him how to play, hit top spins, do spin serves, hit chops. He participates in amateur tournaments now and does fairly well.

It's always good to remember that ten years' worth of experience and repeating the one year of experience ten times are not the same thing.
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