Last Updated: June 11, 2021
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· sergiotapia

Thoughts on being a programmer.

Thoughts on being a programmer


  • Don't be an asshole.
  • Simple code is hard to write.
  • Exquisitely simple code is exquisitely hard to write.
  • Just because it's easy to understand doesn't mean it was easy to write.
  • In fact, the easier it is to understand, the harder it probably was to write.
  • There are many ways to do something.
  • The first way you think of is highly unlikely to be the best way.
  • Anyway, there probably is no best way - just lots of ways that are differently good.
  • There's always plenty of room for improvement - in your code, in your abilities, in you.
  • If you think you're as good as you're ever going to be - you're probably right.
  • "One-line changes" aren't.
  • Learn to desire success more than you fear failure.
  • You're only old when you can no longer learn new tricks.
  • Always back up before tidying up.
  • RTFM.
  • Err vicariously.
  • Sometimes it's OK to be a bit of an asshole. But don't make a habit of it.

Thought I'd share this with you guys, pretty spot on "rules" for being a pretty good programmer.

Source & credit: http://www.yelsew.com/thoughts.html

5 Responses
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just epic :)

over 1 year ago ·

Good reminders -- especially the lines about the difficulty of simplicity. Makes me less anxious about all the thought/time I spend making things concise.

over 1 year ago ·

Nice!

over 1 year ago ·

I think a LOT OF PEOPLE need to learn that there is no best way. It's all situational, but for some people it's all black and white.

Excellent protip!

over 1 year ago ·

really good

over 1 year ago ·