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Re:Top 20 Programming Lessons I've Learned in 20 Years by astine on Wednesday January 13, 2010 @07:41AM (#1050004)
How would you measure 'best' at coding? As I understand it, there are at least several different aspects that you could measure. One persons be the most effective algorithm designer, but another another the quickest at internalizeng large problems. It seems that one ould be the best in one way but not another and there could be no 'best' coder overall.
Re:Top 20 Programming Lessons I've Learned in 20 Years by barrkel on Wednesday January 13, 2010 @07:54AM (#1050014)
I certainly agree. And domain expertise comes into it too. Too much insulation from the domain can lead to a kind of inverse leaky abstraction problem - where not enough of what's real about the problem is affecting the design, which is too ivory-tower.
Re:Top 20 Programming Lessons I've Learned in 20 Years by nitrogen on Wednesday January 13, 2010 @12:14PM (#1050541)
I've experienced this before -- a project designed by database coders to process data not naturally represented by a database metaphor.
Re:Top 20 Programming Lessons I've Learned in 20 Years by eplanit on Wednesday January 13, 2010 @09:08AM (#1050137)
I think the point to be taken is: Let go of the ego. It won't serve you well -- in fact, it will work against you.

Therefore, having concern of anyone being 'best' is simply a waste of time. Besides, 'best' is purely subjective, anyway. So, a pursuit of finding the 'best' is absurd, and wanting to consider one's self as 'best' is ego (or simply narcissism). It's also a sign of youth, and is to be expected.