Less programming, more skill? | Hacker News Reader

Less programming, more skill?

moishelettvin.blogspot.com

22 pointsElfan10 comments

Odd that Bill seems to measure the quality of a hacker by his ability to optimize. For me the test of a good hacker is inventing new kinds of software. Bill's test is probably an artifact of Microsoft's circumstances. Presumably hackers there rarely get to initiate new projects.

It was explained to me at a Microsoft recuriting session that I attended a couple years ago that if you work for engineering at Microsoft your job title is either Designer, Programmer, or Tester. People who do one don't do either of the other two. (Although, surely there must be some niches like their research department where cirumstances are otherwise). So, since all Programmers are confined to the straight-jacket given to them by the Designers, the ability to optimize is probably the best way to differentiate the good ones from the mediocre ones.

Needless to say, I wasn't impressed by the recruiter's pitch. Then again, the recruiter probably wasn't impressed by the Tux polo shirt and EFF cap that I arrived wearing :-)

'... So, since all Programmers are confined to the straight-jacket given to them by the Designers ...'

Not so. At MS, programmers are king.

A Program Manager comes up with the spec. It's up to the programmer(s) to implement it. So anything the programmer wants to ditch, goes.

Read more at JOS, 'Painless Functional Specifications - Part 3: But... How?' ~ http://tinyurl.com/3asbrp & in this excellent book, 'MICROSOFT SECRETS' (978-0028740485) ~ http://tinyurl.com/2ke4hf

Fair enough, but my point remains that the programmers are implementing a spec designed by someone else. When your hackers are completely in control, you can judge them simply by their ability to get things done. If they're implementing someone else's spec, then measurement isn't that simple because their performance will be heavily influenced by the quality of the spec, no matter how much veto power you give them. So, judging by skill at optimizing might well be the next-best alternative.

Then again, maybe we're all being ridiculously overanalytical and Gates just meant "improving" when he said "optimizing".

'...Gates just meant "improving" when he said "optimizing".'

I think that's the case.

Great article. I'm personally starting to burn out on programming myself. I've always shunned the cloud around programming, but I'm finding that embracing the teamwork part a little bit more is helping me to recharge a little bit. Would love to quit and go hiking though.. that sounds rreally nice

Also loved how when I voted it up, but I wasn't logged in, my vote registered after I logged in. I'm guessing that's a continuation?

I get that it's saying in order to be successful in the field of programming, there's a lot more to get good at other than programming.

But can a person really not get better at programming with more practice? Or is it diminishing returns? It makes it sound like how good you'll ever be is limited by innate talent, and can't be overcome with hard work. Others' take on this?

The skill begins by defining the core points of the problem. Then delineating the critical path to the core center of the problem. Problem solving and trouble shooting are two skills many ppl lack.

So hang on, how about the old adage "Repetition is the mother of all skill?" How do we apply that in our situation? As a programmer I found that this is one way of increasing your actual skill.

I liked this article and I think it's applicable to many other things besides programming.

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