Ask HN: What Makes an Ordinary Programmer a Great Programmer?

1 pointacidfreaks2 comments

Anyone can learn and write to code but I want to become a GREAT programmer. I want to be good at problem solving. What recommendations do you have for anyone who wants to become a GREAT Programmer. I'm looking for some advice from like minded people here. I honestly love the hacker news community. Looking forward to hear from you guys. cheers

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Understand the true problems that need to be solved.

Often these have nothing to do with written requirements. It may manifest itself in the system's design, or in what you need to do to fight for time to work on a given area with management. If you're self-employed it may be to understand your customer's true needs, separate from what they think they want.

Writing code is straightforward... it's a skill that can be learned by anyone given enough effort and time. To get to that next level, you gotta learn the real issues that need solving.

That's what makes the great ones stand out.

Working on high value products. It doesn't matter how hard or how smart you work if you work on something that has no impact.

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