Ask HN: How’d you go from a noodler to writing large well structured programs?

Re:Ask HN: How’d you go from a noodler to writing large well... by sshrinivasan on Wednesday November 01, 2017 @05:05PM (#15605462)

I suggest you hire a software developer, preferably a senior one if you can afford it. The difference between a bunch of impressive algorithms written by specialists in the field stitched together by brittle connections, and a bunch of impressive algorithms that are part of a well structured, tested and maintainable suite is huge. Reading a book or two is not going to solve the problem in the long term, which I assume is what you want.

Hiring a software developer who can take a lead role in organizing and structuring the codebase will also make the specialists better programmers, since they learn good programming techniques from someone who actually knows them.

Source: Senior software developer, where I initially started as a "algorithm/application developer" and saw the team grow and benefit by hiring some experienced developers.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How’d you go from a noodler to writing large well... by csours on Wednesday November 01, 2017 @06:18PM (#15606012)

To add to this: what you have now is likely a 20% product - something on the level of a proof of concept.

All of that connecting tissue that makes things robust can take quite a bit of work, and it's really hard to see whether it's robust or not for a while.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How’d you go from a noodler to writing large well... by hodder on Wednesday November 01, 2017 @10:08PM (#15607259)

I wish this was an option to learn from a pro and see how they'd go through it but unfortunately I don't make the hiring decisions or control the budget.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How’d you go from a noodler to writing large well... by heartbreak on Wednesday November 01, 2017 @10:30PM (#15607376)

If you can make purchases you can probably hire a consultant for a few hours so that someone can give you an informed opinion.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How’d you go from a noodler to writing large well... by hodder on Wednesday November 01, 2017 @10:40PM (#15607423)

I don't make purchases is my point. Im an analyst. The manager makes the budget, purchases and hiring decisions, and they have determined a pro dev to not be an option. I can request that a pro be hired (and have requested additional hires have strong skills) and I do.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: How’d you go from a noodler to writing large well... by jgmjgm on Thursday November 02, 2017 @12:00PM (#15611564)

This is a great point. Having someone on your team who can act as a mentor to others is really, really important. Reading well-written code from their work/check-ins will help everyone improve over time.

I still think there are programmers more akin to artists who have a knack for solving complex problems elegantly. BUT there is a lot of craft in coding that can be learned. Even if you're not a greater programmer but you write clear, maintainable code you/someone else can improve it overt time.

[ Parent | on HN ]