I tried that when I started in the fall of '09 and it failed miserably. When I came back this summer after intensively studying C and computer systems in genera

I tried that when I started in the fall of '09 and it failed miserably. When I came back this summer after intensively studying C and computer systems in general, things went a LOT smoother. I'm not doubting your story, but it's not a hard-and-fast rule. Con Kolivas, who has written some interesting/thought-provoking schedulers for the Linux kernel (and stirred up some politics along the way) had never touched C before jumping in. (http://apcmag.com/interview_with_con_kolivas_part_1_computing_is_boring.htm http://apcmag.com/interview_with_con_kolivas_part_1_computin...)