Oh Larry, never change. I often give a similar list as a glib answer in interviews when asked "what are your greatest strengths?" Mine are usually: I'm stupid (not smart enough to overcomplicate), lazy (prefer turning MVP in on time rather than adding too many bells and whistles), and forgetful (document everything because I won't remember what I was doing the next day).
Three virtues of a great programmer
61–70 of 141 posts
Re: Three virtues of a great programmer
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
As someone who has worked hard for years (at some point I had three con-concurrent jobs), I’m not sure working hard is the variable that causes burnout :thinking_face: I will say tho, it gave me persistent back problems and RSI for two years :). But that again is not just “working hard”. It was bad posture, lack of stretching, breaks and exercise, I think. Edit: Perhaps it’s the nature of the work or working hard unh…
I remember hearing about burnout, that it becomes more likely to happen the less meaningful work you do.
Re: Three virtues of a great programmer
#63The Three Virtues of a Great Programmer - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32487944 - Aug 2022 (2 comments)
Larry Wall's Three Great Virtues of a Programmer - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24107571 - Aug 2020 (1 comment)
Develop the three great virtues of a programmer: laziness, impatience, and hubris - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11516215 - April 2016 (72 comments)
The Three Virtues of a GREAT Programmer - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10942079 - Jan 2016 (4 comments)
The Three Great Virtues of a Programmer: Laziness, Impatience, and Hubris - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9788088 - June 2015 (67 comments)
Re: Three virtues of a great programmer
#64Earlier quoted context omitted.
As someone who has worked hard for years (at some point I had three con-concurrent jobs), I’m not sure working hard is the variable that causes burnout :thinking_face: I will say tho, it gave me persistent back problems and RSI for two years :). But that again is not just “working hard”. It was bad posture, lack of stretching, breaks and exercise, I think. Edit: Perhaps it’s the nature of the work or working hard unh…
I remember hearing about burnout, that it becomes more likely to happen the less meaningful work you do.
Because this is that.
Re: Three virtues of a great programmer
#65Re: Three virtues of a great programmer
#66One missing virtue is never impart programming advice or wisdom on the internet - Because 10 other programmers who know nothing about you or your job will tell you in detail all the ways in which you're doing it wrong.
Re: Three virtues of a great programmer
#67Re: Three virtues of a great programmer
#68Re: Three virtues of a great programmer
#69Re: Three virtues of a great programmer
#70I'd add Curiosity instead of Impatience. Impatience is related to Laziness. In both cases we want the computer to do the work instead of us. But Curiosity is orthogonal and important. The best programmers I know were always curious: Why was it built that way? Why does it give that output? Why did she say that? Curiosity is the beginning of knowledge. If you're not curious, you will miss out on a lot of opportunities…