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Code sober, get things done drunk

alexmuir.com

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Re: Code sober, get things done drunk

#71

Post by kysol »

calloc wrote: post #3

I have personally programmed a lot while tipsy (never drunk, I am not sure I would want to read that code in the morning) and it allows me to get over the humps of writing that utility function that needed to be written but I was putting off, it allows me to just start putting code down in vim without really worrying whether or not it is good enough... Let me quantify good enough a little better. I am a perfectionist…

I too work somewhat the same way. I remember one Friday afternoon in the cab on the way home from work (which we had started drinking at lunch, and it continued until we left). So there I was in the cab, I had a "eureka!" moment, grabbed my laptop, booted up a terminal, and bashed out some code. By the time I got home, it worked, it did what we needed it to do, and I'm there joking with my manager (who was more drunk than I) on the phone telling him about the 15mins of coding drunk in the back of a cab.

Coding drunk is not for everyone, it won't make you into a super-coder that can do everything magically, but if you're like some of us, where perfection limits production, being tipsy or totally drunk breaks those barriers and allows you to just do the job.

Re: Code sober, get things done drunk

#72

Post by burgerbrain »

sdfsdf22 wrote: post #59
burgerbrain wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does "having difficulties firing people" have to have a "root cause" other than "you think of yourself as a fairly decent guy and understand the effects getting fired has on somebody" ? This is just pop psychology mumbo jumbo.

It isn't. To rephrase what he's saying: "If you have trouble handling awkward things sober, work on overcoming that difficulty. Having a drink to solve your problems leads to alcoholism, and alcoholism is a much worse problem."

Alcohol leads to alcoholism. It's an extremely addictive substance. The frequency and volume are what put you at risk, the reasons people drink are only poor indicaters of those factors.

Thinking to the contrary can actually put you at more risk, since you might think yourself not at risk if you "only drink socially".

Re: Code sober, get things done drunk

#73

Post by djtriptych »

I agree. Remember we're all programmers, which means we all sit around thinking about how to be perfect all the time, because it's out job, which is a FUCKING INSANE thing for humans to do by and large, and can easily lead to analysis paralysis.

I love approaching work from both the hyperfocused left brain and those mental states where I'm not quite so worried about semicolons, so to speak.

Re: Code sober, get things done drunk

#74

Post by djtriptych »

I agree. Remember we're all programmers, which means we all sit around thinking about how to be perfect all the time, because it's out job, which is a FUCKING INSANE thing for humans to do by and large, and can easily lead to analysis paralysis.

I love approaching work from both the hyperfocused left brain and those mental states where I'm not quite so worried about semicolons, so to speak.

Re: Code sober, get things done drunk

#75

Post by djtriptych »

languagehacker wrote: post #42

I personally wouldn't be bragging that I turned someone away for their poor writing skill by using an excerpt from a rejection email that includes a comma splice. Real hypocritical. I can only imagine that the publication he referees has the reading level of your average YouTube comments section. Or maybe "getting things done" drunk, like coding drunk, also doesn't work for the author -- but being drunk, he believes…

It's only hypocritical if he also said that the editor must necessarily have the best grammar at any publication, which is of course ridiculous. Only grammar nerds think grammar = good writing.

Re: Code sober, get things done drunk

#77

Post by mafro »

BSousa wrote: post #49
micheljansen wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have noticed a similar effect in other areas myself. On example is bowling. Sober, I am terrible, but after a few beers I rock the lane; right before I start to wobble and fail to hit even a single pin :P

I have the same problem with pool. Usually before the second pint I'm crap, 2-3 is the sweet spot, after that is downhill. But damn, I used to be in a couple leagues and those 2 pints really put me in the zone.

Pool and bowling will both improve after a couple of beers - your muscles will relax and you'll start to throw/shoot straighter. It's all technique with these two sports.

I don't need to point out too many beers will affect your technique in an equal and opposing fashion..

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