4 ms·

I have been following Jeff's blog since a little after I started programming. I have seen his articles—especially those having strong opinions—criticised veheme

I have been following Jeff's blog since a little after I started programming. I have seen his articles—especially those having strong opinions—criticised vehemently. Jeff even wrote post about people who email him how they hate his blog. But, I find it delightfully amazing that he stuck to his programming roots and found two successful ventures nonetheless. I think he's a great example of power of doing things. He didn't start a blog with any objective other than just to write. And he wrote prolifically. If you follow his blog posts, you'll realise that he's rarely more than a person who loves computers. But, because he did things without dissuasion, he kept improving, until the success started building on his efforts.

Clanan 10y ago
There's a great early SO podcast with Jeff A. and Joel Spolsky (Fogcreek) where they argue about whether developers should know C and/or C++. Joel is rigidly in favor of it, whereas Jeff thinks it's pointless. It's a great back-and-forth, hearing these two successful guys scratching their heads at each other's comments and stubbornness.
- kamikaz1k 9y ago
  Is this the one you were referring to? https://stackoverflow.fogbugz.com/default.asp?W87857 https://stackoverflow.fogbugz.com/default.asp?W87857
philliphaydon 10y ago
I'm one of those people who don't like his blog, I've never emailed him tho. It's just personal preference to not like his style of writing and random bolding / underlining everywhere where he doesn't need to. But no one should ever like they can't achieve anything just because a bunch of people don't like them or say mean things. Just continue to do what you enjoy and ignore those who don't care for your passion.
YCode 10y ago
Definitely an example of perspiration over innovation. So many devs and "idea guys" dismiss flawed ideas and wait around for that one great idea that will launch their career, not realizing most popular libraries/sites/etc. started as a pretty basic and flawed concept that was iterated into a work of art. Ideas are worthless, execution is everything.

Clanan 10y ago

There's a great early SO podcast with Jeff A. and Joel Spolsky (Fogcreek) where they argue about whether developers should know C and/or C++. Joel is rigidly in favor of it, whereas Jeff thinks it's pointless. It's a great back-and-forth, hearing these two successful guys scratching their heads at each other's comments and stubbornness.

kamikaz1k 9y ago
Is this the one you were referring to? https://stackoverflow.fogbugz.com/default.asp?W87857 https://stackoverflow.fogbugz.com/default.asp?W87857

philliphaydon 10y ago

I'm one of those people who don't like his blog, I've never emailed him tho. It's just personal preference to not like his style of writing and random bolding / underlining everywhere where he doesn't need to. But no one should ever like they can't achieve anything just because a bunch of people don't like them or say mean things. Just continue to do what you enjoy and ignore those who don't care for your passion.

YCode 10y ago

Definitely an example of perspiration over innovation. So many devs and "idea guys" dismiss flawed ideas and wait around for that one great idea that will launch their career, not realizing most popular libraries/sites/etc. started as a pretty basic and flawed concept that was iterated into a work of art. Ideas are worthless, execution is everything.