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Every Computer Scientist Should Have a Creative Hobby

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Re: Every Computer Scientist Should Have a Creative Hobby

#31
Graphic illustration is a great skill for any software developer to have. I began developing a basic illustration skillset only a few years ago and have used it many times in my work. I can completely lose myself in the creative process. There aren't many other practices where I can focus so intensely for so long. I'm OK with having a beginner's skillset, considering I had none not too long ago.

I did all of the illustrations for my open source project page, which I've re-used for presentations and conference poster session with great success: https://yosaiproject.github.io/yosai

poster session: https://imgur.com/a/BdFho

Re: Every Computer Scientist Should Have a Creative Hobby

#32
post #13

Just so you're aware, calling yourself a computer scientist because you have a degree in CS is something that only college students / recent graduates do. "Software Developer" is a better word for what you do.

Don't you mean "engineer"? ;)

Or something like that :)

Re: Every Computer Scientist Should Have a Creative Hobby

#33
post #9

I recently picked up knot-tying. I wouldn't necessarily call it a creative hobby but it's a nice challenge and pretty satisfying/useful. Costs about nothing, can do it at your desk.

I loved knots as a boyscout, how do I get into that as a hobby? Do you invent new knots? Try to do very complicated knots?

Re: Every Computer Scientist Should Have a Creative Hobby

#34
post #31

Graphic illustration is a great skill for any software developer to have. I began developing a basic illustration skillset only a few years ago and have used it many times in my work. I can completely lose myself in the creative process. There aren't many other practices where I can focus so intensely for so long. I'm OK with having a beginner's skillset, considering I had none not too long ago. I did all of the illu…

How did you get started?

Re: Every Computer Scientist Should Have a Creative Hobby

#35
post #34
post #31

Graphic illustration is a great skill for any software developer to have. I began developing a basic illustration skillset only a few years ago and have used it many times in my work. I can completely lose myself in the creative process. There aren't many other practices where I can focus so intensely for so long. I'm OK with having a beginner's skillset, considering I had none not too long ago. I did all of the illu…

How did you get started?

I learn best with a goal in mind. So, my entry into learning Adobe Illustrator was by tracing the outline of this Japanese castle. It required one tool in the entire application and by the end of the project I was pretty good with it! I continued learning one major tool at a time. Youtube videos and blog posts were helpful.

original: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Matsumot...

mine: https://github.com/YosaiProject/yosai/blob/master/doc/docs/i...

Re: Every Computer Scientist Should Have a Creative Hobby

#36
post #33
post #9

I recently picked up knot-tying. I wouldn't necessarily call it a creative hobby but it's a nice challenge and pretty satisfying/useful. Costs about nothing, can do it at your desk.

I loved knots as a boyscout, how do I get into that as a hobby? Do you invent new knots? Try to do very complicated knots?

I'm still relatively new at it so I'm having fun with learning various knots and practicing on a few different lengths of rope I have at my desk. Inventing a new knot would be great, but I'm not at that level yet.

It's more of a casual hobby, but knowing knots can vastly enhance other activities. The spatial challenge of learning the knots is what's most appealing to me right now.

I've got two books at the moment, the 'Ashley Book of Knots' which is a classic, and the "Everything Knots Book".

Re: Every Computer Scientist Should Have a Creative Hobby

#38
post #33
post #9

I recently picked up knot-tying. I wouldn't necessarily call it a creative hobby but it's a nice challenge and pretty satisfying/useful. Costs about nothing, can do it at your desk.

I loved knots as a boyscout, how do I get into that as a hobby? Do you invent new knots? Try to do very complicated knots?

I loved knots as a Boy Scout too. It never occurred to me to practice this as an adult. What a great idea.
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