10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#1

Post by GarethX » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 12:18 PM UTC

10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths
blog.fogcreek.com

Re: 10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#2

Post by vkjv » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 1:15 PM UTC

I think like a lot of myths, there is a kernel of truth in the 10x programmer myth.

The fact is, some problems are hard. Some problems are beyond the grasp of some developers. Even given unlimited time an individual may not ever accomplish the goal. I can certainly think of problem sets where that is true of myself.

In those specific circumstances, that person can be considered a "10x programmer" when compared with another.

Re: 10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#3

Post by mberning » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 1:17 PM UTC

I love these videos, but the production values are terrible. Invest in a good camera and microphone setup.

Re: 10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#4

Post by adamzerner » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 1:18 PM UTC

He doesn't say that the 10x programmer is a myth. Just that there isn't academic research that proves it to be true, which hardly means that it's wrong.

Re: 10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#5

Post by GarethX » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 1:19 PM UTC

mberning wrote: post #3

I love these videos, but the production values are terrible. Invest in a good camera and microphone setup.

Sorry about that, we're trialing some new software which will help improve future videos. For now, hopefully, the transcript will fill any blanks.

Re: 10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#6

Post by pestaa » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 1:20 PM UTC

I believe not only in 10X programmers, but in 1000X programmers. I work with a senior lead developer who has decades of experience, but asks for help with the most trivial issues (like, how an overridden method would behave and how to call the parent class implementation.)

I also firmly believe copy-pasting should be disabled on sites like Stack Overflow.

Re: 10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#7

Post by robmccoll » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 1:21 PM UTC

Are there similar myths in other professions?

It seems like software as an industry is very prone to myths, poor introspection, and no-true-scotsman methodologies that purport to solve or harness the resulting "insights".

Re: 10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#8

Post by x1024 » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 1:21 PM UTC

mberning wrote: post #3

I love these videos, but the production values are terrible. Invest in a good camera and microphone setup.

Or at the very least move your headphone-mounted microphone near your mouth.

Re: 10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#9

Post by Lawtonfogle » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 1:22 PM UTC

adamzerner wrote: post #4

He doesn't say that the 10x programmer is a myth. Just that there isn't academic research that proves it to be true, which hardly means that it's wrong.

The real question is if we should expect their to be evidence behind it. And considering the funding, the opprotunities for research, the difficulty of doing a study someone won't easily pick apart, and the community push to verify it at a peer reviewed level, I am not surprised we don't have peer reviewed research.

For starters, I've yet to see a good way to measure productivity.

Re: 10X Programmer and Other Software Engineering Myths

#10

Post by WatchDog » Tue, Mar 31, 2015, 1:22 PM UTC

mberning wrote: post #3

I love these videos, but the production values are terrible. Invest in a good camera and microphone setup.

I dont really mind the video, but the audio makes it really difficult to stay engaged.