News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

worthlessgenius

They should say the word "thus" more often...
Re:Feds, Please Return My Personal Files Stored at MegaUpload on Friday January 20, 2012 @03:41PM (#3491119)
Wouldn't they be unaffected when the ATF comes and raids that one storage space? Or would the ATF be so heavy-handed as to barge into everyone's space and shut the company down?
Re:So You Want to Be a Programmer? on Friday April 24, 2009 @12:50PM (#577754)
Ha, the boob point is well taken.

I'm certainly not/not going to be the world's most stellar programmer, but I have to look at the other people in my class who are obviously holding up the rest of the students through their complete misunderstanding of the material.

Sure there is potential in everyone, and most likely a career path for any number of variables involved in producing a quality software product. But when a person is taking their second class in a programming language, and you ask them to show you their switch statement, and all you get is blank stares, is it your place to think that they need to find something else?

Obviously this is all from my personal experience, and I don't profess to know all the answers. But, as a general question, how do you handle a fellow student who is obviously not getting the coursework, and if they achieve the same degree will lessen the effectiveness of said degree from the same institution?

Re:So You Want to Be a Programmer? on Friday April 24, 2009 @12:44PM (#577747)
That's a very good point, one that I hadn't considered. Although I don't think that being able to study and doing a little research are mutually exclusive.

But, as you say, most likely a person who doesn't have the ability/desire to study and learn about a certain subject probably wouldn't take the time to consider the time and effort involved.

Re:So You Want to Be a Programmer? on Friday April 24, 2009 @12:15PM (#577687)
There are many layers involved which lead up to this point. The teachers, parents, peers and selves all play a large part in how a person learns. A good combination of the involvement of each is needed to produce an upstanding member of society.
Re:So You Want to Be a Programmer? on Friday April 24, 2009 @11:51AM (#577661)
You do make very good points, and I can't disagree with you. The article wasn't meant to be a blanket statement involving all programmers. It was rather meant to be a rant about how a lot of people who begin to go down that path either don't know what they're getting themselves into, or just simply don't care what kind of burden they are putting on others.

As for the statements of advice, you are correct. They are indeed broad, and would do with a good bit of expansion. This wasn't meant to be the alpha and omega of posts about what it means to be a programmer.

Re:So You Want to Be a Programmer? on Friday April 24, 2009 @11:26AM (#577614)
Apparently something went haywire with the database. Should be back up and running now.

The Ugly American Programmer

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001248.html

"Whatever country you live in, whatever language you speak, you have the same access to the accumulated knowledge of the world as every other citizen of the planet Earth. I believe the rules are different for programmers. So much so that I'm going to ask the unthinkable: shouldn't every software developer understand English?"

( Read More... | 68 comments | 79 points | on HN )