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There are these "great programmers" that lead movements of how to code. And then there are the programmers that actually write code on big, complex projects.

There are these "great programmers" that lead movements of how to code. And then there are the programmers that actually write code on big, complex projects. Somehow you don't hear about these people very much.

pizlonator 10y ago
Sure you do and you just did. Knuth wrote a hugely successful typesetting system that is still the standard for mathematical texts. That was one of his accomplishments. I don't know about the others in the article - off the top of my head I can't think of a software system that the others wrote that I have used. But Knuth is a programmer who actually writes code.
taneq 10y ago
It's because they're busy implementing features and fighting fires on their big complex projects.
- xigency 10y ago
  That's true, it's much harder to wax philosophical when you have your hands full in the first place.
  - mfukar 10y ago
    And why are your hands full? Because you didn't take time to think.
    - taneq 10y ago
      Really? If you just take time to think then everything will go nice and smoothly and you'll always have spare capacity? Let us know how that goes for you when you get a real job.
      - flatfilefan 10y ago
        good theory is the best tool
        AnimalMuppet 10y ago
        Nope. Good theory is just one more tool. Don't get me wrong, good theory matters. But good, clean design also matters. Clarity of thought (about the problem space as well as the theory) matters. Good tests matter. (Someone said, "It's amazing how many bugs a proven-correct program can have.") Good process matters. It all matters.
      - mfukar 10y ago
        It goes very well for me so far, thank you very much.
    - collyw 10y ago
      Because I inherited a mess.
    - xigency 10y ago
      No, many great developers have their hands full because they have a number of ambitious projects. Certainly some tasks take enormous effort regardless of your technique. Also, some don't care to write or proselytize.
vox_mollis 10y ago
Knuth wrote TeX over a decade. Some might call it a "big, complex project" for a single developer whose day job is teaching and researching.
marto1 10y ago
but you can usually hear their screeching at night.

pizlonator 10y ago

Sure you do and you just did. Knuth wrote a hugely successful typesetting system that is still the standard for mathematical texts. That was one of his accomplishments. I don't know about the others in the article - off the top of my head I can't think of a software system that the others wrote that I have used. But Knuth is a programmer who actually writes code.

taneq 10y ago

It's because they're busy implementing features and fighting fires on their big complex projects.

xigency 10y ago
That's true, it's much harder to wax philosophical when you have your hands full in the first place.
- mfukar 10y ago
  And why are your hands full? Because you didn't take time to think.
  - taneq 10y ago
    Really? If you just take time to think then everything will go nice and smoothly and you'll always have spare capacity? Let us know how that goes for you when you get a real job.
    - flatfilefan 10y ago
      good theory is the best tool
      - AnimalMuppet 10y ago
        Nope. Good theory is just one more tool. Don't get me wrong, good theory matters. But good, clean design also matters. Clarity of thought (about the problem space as well as the theory) matters. Good tests matter. (Someone said, "It's amazing how many bugs a proven-correct program can have.") Good process matters. It all matters.
    - mfukar 10y ago
      It goes very well for me so far, thank you very much.
  - collyw 10y ago
    Because I inherited a mess.
  - xigency 10y ago
    No, many great developers have their hands full because they have a number of ambitious projects. Certainly some tasks take enormous effort regardless of your technique. Also, some don't care to write or proselytize.

vox_mollis 10y ago

Knuth wrote TeX over a decade. Some might call it a "big, complex project" for a single developer whose day job is teaching and researching.

marto1 10y ago

but you can usually hear their screeching at night.