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Though not a language, nor a tool: A touch typing course. Early in my career I noticed programmers around me with 10+ years experience still typing the "preyin

by kentosi 10y ago

Though not a language, nor a tool: A touch typing course. Early in my career I noticed programmers around me with 10+ years experience still typing the "preying-mantis" way (thumb+index+middle fingers pecking at the keyboard, head frantically bobbing eye-focus between keyboard and screen). I thought to myself that if I had the same experience as them and could touch type I would be immensely faster. I was right. Typing faster = coding faster = learning faster.

benzor 10y ago
I completely agree that a minimum typing speed makes a huge difference. That being said, the code output bottleneck is usually my brain and not my hands!
- npolet 10y ago
  Very much so. I think a lot of people who code or know much about it are surprised by how much abstract thinking there is involved when programming. I would love to time my work hours (somehow) over the course of a few months and see the amount of time spent thinking and jotting ideas down, to actually writing code. I work closely with non-developers a lot and they have mentioned that they didn't realise how 'big' programming, languages, algorithms etc... are. There is a hell of a lot of stuff to know. But I suppose this is the same with many industries.
  - otakucode 10y ago
    It can be problematic. Many leaders of companies think programming is a matter of typing. We've had a monumental fundamental shift in the workplace from repetitive physical labor (manufacturing) to mental labor, and the workplace has not caught up at all. They're still using the same structures and practices honed to perform well in manufacturing contexts. Human beings have very different needs and capabilities when it comes to mental work. But we still drop people in a big noisy open floor plan office, expect 8+ hours a day of continuous exertion, and load daily schedules up with distraction.

by kentosi 10y ago

benzor 10y ago

I completely agree that a minimum typing speed makes a huge difference. That being said, the code output bottleneck is usually my brain and not my hands!

npolet 10y ago
Very much so. I think a lot of people who code or know much about it are surprised by how much abstract thinking there is involved when programming. I would love to time my work hours (somehow) over the course of a few months and see the amount of time spent thinking and jotting ideas down, to actually writing code. I work closely with non-developers a lot and they have mentioned that they didn't realise how 'big' programming, languages, algorithms etc... are. There is a hell of a lot of stuff to know. But I suppose this is the same with many industries.
- otakucode 10y ago
  It can be problematic. Many leaders of companies think programming is a matter of typing. We've had a monumental fundamental shift in the workplace from repetitive physical labor (manufacturing) to mental labor, and the workplace has not caught up at all. They're still using the same structures and practices honed to perform well in manufacturing contexts. Human beings have very different needs and capabilities when it comes to mental work. But we still drop people in a big noisy open floor plan office, expect 8+ hours a day of continuous exertion, and load daily schedules up with distraction.