Ask HN: “Are you a good programmer?” – is it a pointless question?

Re:Ask HN: “Are you a good programmer?” – is it a pointless ... by calcsam on Sunday March 01, 2015 @09:48PM (#9130072)

No. No no no no no. Ask someone what their strengths are as a programmer. Don't ask them whether they are a good programmer.

Let's say I asked you: "Are you a good person?"

Well, compared to who? Compared to Mother Theresa? Probably not. But compared to the average person on the street? Probably.

If I asked you that question, I'd learn more about who you compared yourself to than whether you are a good person.

(Also, if I asked Mother Theresa that question, she'd probably have compared herself to Jesus and said 'No.')

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Re:Ask HN: “Are you a good programmer?” – is it a pointless ... by andrewstuart on Sunday March 01, 2015 @09:53PM (#9130082)

Six no's! That's a strongly held opinion.

I don't really see the open ended nature of the question as being a problem. In fact that's kind of the idea - get people talking about what it means to be a good programmer, what makes a good programmer, why it is that they think they are a good programmer.

A good programmer probably should be able to have an effective discussion on the topic should they not?

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Re:Ask HN: “Are you a good programmer?” – is it a pointless ... by panorama on Monday March 02, 2015 @05:21PM (#9134756)

I'm not GP but I think you are both correct. What I personally dislike and would avoid as an interviewer is "Rate your [language] skills from 1-10". I've answered a "2" every time I've been asked that question, and it probably reflected poorly on me, oh well. Most people hiring would probably consider me significantly higher, but I honestly do believe there is a magnitude of difference between me and the top 1% of say, Ruby developers in the world.

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Re:Ask HN: “Are you a good programmer?” – is it a pointless ... by seeyes on Tuesday March 03, 2015 @12:57PM (#9139277)

Well put. I have been asked the same question in interviews. Any interview I gave myself < 8, I could see the interviewer was uncomfortable interviewing a 'newbie'. I am wary of saying anything over 8 because I feel there's no way you could learn everything about something. Not with the amount of information there is on language/paradigms etc

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