The Parable Of The "still Works" Programmer

[grabenair]

The Parable of the “Still Works” Programmer

 

There was once a programmer who was facing a JavaScript program he didn’t understand. By rewriting one character in a JavaScript statement he did not understand and refreshing the browser to see if the code “still works” he progressed toward making his website work.

 

He (or she of course) is a programmer who was also a “does it work now?” type of programmer. He refreshed his browser to see if the code that didn’t work... After he changed one character to another or replaced {} with ... if it still worked now.

 

Of course he was also the “copy and paste” type of programmer. He pasted code from tutorial websites into his own and miraculously they would work. But when they didn’t he was very frustrated and started asking others for help without considering to type a few words into Google.

 

Don’t be the “still works” kind of programmer. The “Still works” programmer is slow. He doesn’t learn anything. That is why he is stuck on every single new problem he faces. It’s because he was looking to make the code work without understanding it. He doesn’t utilize his own ability to resolve problems logically. To innovate on his own learning abilities.

 

The “still works” kind of programmer is impatient. Programming requires patience because without practice we cannot write a perfect program the first time around. Programming requires discipline and the ability to lean logical ideas and implement them efficiently.

 

The danger of being the “still works” programmer is not in sliding down to become “still kinda works” programmer. If it is evident in our programming habits then it will be the general attitude we look at other things in with. The danger of it lies in carrying the “still works” attitude into other areas of your life.

 

Does your life still work? Or do you copy and paste solutions from other people hoping they could apply in your life too? Are you just a bunch of copy and paste habits that “still work” but you’re not quite really sure? Or do you seek to take responsibility for your own situation in life? To be your own self? To figure out how things work by yourself? To apply yourself and your abilities?

 

The alternative to being the “Still works” programmer is to understand JavaScript.

 

Giving credit where credit is due

This was written by Greg Sidelnikov, just wanted to share.