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A collection of things software developers should know

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Re: A collection of things software developers should know

#171

Post by skate22 »

SAI_Peregrinus wrote: post #117
new_hackers wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? It would seem that: Happiness, Health, Money, Marriage, Kids would be the correct order to process these tasks? Without the previous item(s), the latter item is harder to obtain and maintain at full functionality.

Be careful with that. There's a growing body of evidence that waiting too long to have children causes some disorders. EG Autism is far more common in children born to older parents. Money is an especially difficult one, as it's very easy to move your own goal continually upward. Happiness is also difficult, since it's almost always going to be a transient state and not a long-term thing. A better list is probably: S…

The mvp of reproductive success lol.

Re: A collection of things software developers should know

#172

Post by new_hackers »

SAI_Peregrinus wrote: post #117
new_hackers wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? It would seem that: Happiness, Health, Money, Marriage, Kids would be the correct order to process these tasks? Without the previous item(s), the latter item is harder to obtain and maintain at full functionality.

Be careful with that. There's a growing body of evidence that waiting too long to have children causes some disorders. EG Autism is far more common in children born to older parents. Money is an especially difficult one, as it's very easy to move your own goal continually upward. Happiness is also difficult, since it's almost always going to be a transient state and not a long-term thing. A better list is probably: S…

I wasn't really meaning the As-Seen-On-TV "rich and happy".

I meant "happiness" more as the opposite of "pain and despair". If you are not in a place mentally to have a partner and children, don't do it.

Same with "health". If you aren't healthy, either by circumstance or by choice, you probably aren't ready for a partner or kids.

"Money" is relative. I really mean, if you have enough resources to provide for more than yourself. If you can't provide anything for a relationship, or kids, you aren't ready.

You could draw this as concentric rings of self-control, and only once you are in control of the inner ring, can you progress to outer rings.

You must control your mind, body, environment, relationships, and offspring. If you lose control of one of the inner rings, then you cannot control the outer rings.

Re: A collection of things software developers should know

#173

Post by afarrell »

carlmr wrote: post #74
afarrell wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are loads of people who don't actually know how to efficiently cut the loin from a pig, tack against the wind, or ensure proper close air support while bringing even a few thousand soldiers into territory held by an enemy force... But who still post that Heinline monologue about how specialization is for insects.

Heinlein's quote I think is not to be taken too literally. It's the notion that human beings can do so many things and there's a lot of synergy in knowing that many things. You'll start seeing connections between one and the other and solve problems in activity A while doing activity B. It's fun too! I might not know how to butcher a pig, but I know multiple programming languages, multiple human languages, I ski, I c…

> not to be taken too literally

Sure, but it doesn't help you actually decide where the line is between "things which I should focus on learning" and "things which are massive skills that it would take many years to learn and I shouldn't bother." My biggest problem here is with "learn how to plan an invasion".

Re: A collection of things software developers should know

#174

Post by BatFastard »

new_hackers wrote: post #172
SAI_Peregrinus wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be careful with that. There's a growing body of evidence that waiting too long to have children causes some disorders. EG Autism is far more common in children born to older parents. Money is an especially difficult one, as it's very easy to move your own goal continually upward. Happiness is also difficult, since it's almost always going to be a transient state and not a long-term thing. A better list is probably: S…

I wasn't really meaning the As-Seen-On-TV "rich and happy". I meant "happiness" more as the opposite of "pain and despair". If you are not in a place mentally to have a partner and children, don't do it. Same with "health". If you aren't healthy, either by circumstance or by choice, you probably aren't ready for a partner or kids. "Money" is relative. I really mean, if you have enough resources to provide for more th…

Well said. Though I not longer have the illusion of control. You must manage your mind, body, environment, etc.

Re: A collection of things software developers should know

#175

Post by frostymarvelous »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #97
ATsch wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find that saying the phrase "get a life" to people that enjoy what they are doing is extremely condescending. If I enjoy programming all day, or having huge flame wars, or maintaining a huge collection of antique watering cans sorted by volume, then who are you to judge me for that?

I'm seconding this reading and I'd like to remind everyone that for many here, programming is still an intellectually stimulating experience first and a job second , if at all. Not all code - especially not the interesting one - is made at work. I suppose GP meant "work-life balance", but for some of us, code is more part of "life" than of "work".

For one thing, I do know my life revolves around programming.

I work from home and so get to spend time with my kids and have a pretty chill time, but everything I do, is calculated towards solving that next problem.

E.g.when I'm stuck on a problem, I go play with my kids to rest and passively process it.

To me, this is a pretty chill life. This is what a "life" means to me.

Traditionally, people's careers have always been their lives. Blacksmiths, farmers etc, why can't it be now?

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