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I tend to counter this argument with an analogy: "I'm building houses, not hammers." It's a problem if you don't know the right tool for the job. It's a good id
by dmalvarado 10y ago
I tend to counter this argument with an analogy: "I'm building houses, not hammers." It's a problem if you don't know the right tool for the job. It's a good idea to have some idea about how the tool works, but it's not necessary to know how to build the tool from scratch, by heart.
Algorithms and data structures are tools, not products.
- Cthulhu_ 10y agoIt's like learning blacksmithing to construct your own hammer. A valuable skill to have on its own, but, a craftsman will recognise who's good at making hammers and nails, who at sourcing wood, who at architecting houses, and who at building houses.
- dozzie 10y ago> It's like learning blacksmithing to construct your own hammer. No. It's like using your blacksmith skills to construct your own hammer for forging. Woodworkers call most of such shop-made tools "jigs" and it's a very important part of craftsmanship.