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Ask HN: What bits of fundamental knowledge are productivity multipliers?

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Re: Ask HN: What bits of fundamental knowledge are productivity multipliers?

#171

Post by SamReidHughes »

giantg2 wrote: post #151
lanstin wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

calculus is irreplaceable for understanding system dynamics. Every meta-stable computer system is an incarnate approximarion of some differential equations relating the different parts of the system and the way changes propagate from here to there. I don't often use numerical methods, but analysis of stability, classification of fixed point types, topological limits to what small changes to the system can do to the b…

I mean, you could call that basic logic and just take a philosophy course. That would provide formal and informal methods of evaluation without the need for actual calculus. This informal understanding and balancing is more closely aligned with philosophy than it is to calculus.

Nope. You could call that basic logic... and you'd be wrong, because it's not basic logic.

Re: Ask HN: What bits of fundamental knowledge are productivity multipliers?

#172

Post by tonyarkles »

lanstin wrote: post #129
giantg2 wrote: post #24

"Calculus for solving all sorts of problems." Is this really common? I know I'm not in a top tier job, so maybe they don't give dummies like me the hard problems, but I've never had to use calculus to solve a real world problem.

calculus is irreplaceable for understanding system dynamics. Every meta-stable computer system is an incarnate approximarion of some differential equations relating the different parts of the system and the way changes propagate from here to there. I don't often use numerical methods, but analysis of stability, classification of fixed point types, topological limits to what small changes to the system can do to the b…

I realize that I'm in a less common industry, but I often end up using calculus and DiffEqs in my day-to-day work working with drones.

To your point on system dynamics, queuing theory pairs really well with calculus on that as well. Being able to somewhat predict how a system is going to behave under load based on measurements and an understanding of how the queues work is super super valuable for decision making.

Re: Ask HN: What bits of fundamental knowledge are productivity multipliers?

#173

Post by cloverich »

thunkshift1 wrote: post #160
catchclose8919 wrote: post #111

Learn to delegate/outsource at all levels from technical to mathematical: the best kind of delegation is to tools/systems/languages/type-systems (eg. "outsource your attention to the type-system") since it's always cheap enough to be in-budget...

Why is delegation important?

Because otherwise you are solving problems someone else can solve just as easily. It doesn't mean be lazy, it means be selective about what you choose to do yourself. Its a big one in the seven habits book: Do, Plan, Delegate, Eliminate.

Re: Ask HN: What bits of fundamental knowledge are productivity multipliers?

#174

Post by hypefi »

PennRobotics wrote: post #95
softwarebeware wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And Unix tools in general

And vim in particular: free, vast availability, no GUI needed, regex, macros, plugins, folds, block editing, syntax highlighting, drop in your vimrc and go, runs shell commands, etc.

this

Re: Ask HN: What bits of fundamental knowledge are productivity multipliers?

#175

Post by giantg2 »

SamReidHughes wrote: post #171
giantg2 wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, you could call that basic logic and just take a philosophy course. That would provide formal and informal methods of evaluation without the need for actual calculus. This informal understanding and balancing is more closely aligned with philosophy than it is to calculus.

Nope. You could call that basic logic... and you'd be wrong, because it's not basic logic.

How so? The comment clearly states that they aren't doing any formal calculations, not using numerical methods, and just getting approximate insights.

If I'm wrong, show me I'm wrong and post a substantive comment. Snarky comments like that are not inline with HN guidelines.

Re: Ask HN: What bits of fundamental knowledge are productivity multipliers?

#178

Post by JJzD »

wittycardio wrote: post #156
exdsq wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love this idea. You don’t need to be at the top 1% of a field to do cool innovate stuff, just be good at two or three different fields and see what happens when you combine them. Currently going down this rabbit hole with computational archaeology and having a whale of a time :)

This is complete bs, real innovation happens exclusively in the top 1 percent of the field. This is just coolaid that some people like to drink to de emphasize the value of real skill and inflate their own egos.

Some of the innovation indeed happens at the edges of what we know, and we learn as human species collectively. But most innovation is about combining multiple fields, and cross pollinate new ideas. Especially in the business world, where there is no unsolved problem, everything has been seen before, and most of us are just paid to get to the solution fastest. Applying knowledge from other fields, can be a great benefit.

Re: Ask HN: What bits of fundamental knowledge are productivity multipliers?

#179

Post by genewitch »

warrenm wrote: post #106
dijit wrote: post #12

There are few productivity boosters greater than spending time learning the tools you use in and out. This goes for hotkeys in software all the way to quirks about a language.

It works in the digital world because it comes from the physical: I owned a powertool that sat unused for 5+ years because I thought I didn't have an application for it Was shown how to use it effectively, and improved my efficiency by more than double on the task it's good for

Out of curiosity, was it a variable speed oscillating tool?

Re: Ask HN: What bits of fundamental knowledge are productivity multipliers?

#180

Post by mejutoco »

As of recently I would say IMO Mathematics is the ultimate multiplier. It is thinking clearly, and it can be 10x, 1000x, or the difference between something being impossible or possible.

A more prosaic answer, in terms of tools, would be to know your editor well (assuming programming), since you will spend a lot of time in it. Even if typing speed is not the limiter, it can help focus and keep bursts of input uninterrupted.

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