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I know building useful things is hard and I know it takes time. But I really don't know why that means I automatically have limited effective potential by facto

by coryl 16y ago

I know building useful things is hard and I know it takes time. But I really don't know why that means I automatically have limited effective potential by factor X. It's as if your trying to intimidate me, and I don't know if you're smug or have a big ego or are being honestly truthful, or all the above. You already know I'm new to Java, why do you feel the need express the overwhelming complexities and difficulties in building software? Maybe because of that one line, you assumed I was an idiot (only partially true!). Maybe its because you don't know I work in an MVC framework building web pages everyday, or that I admin our servers through SSH. Or that I've built MySQL tables, PHP contact forms, and even used PayPal's API once to forward customers to a download page where they could retrieve the product they paid for. So yeah, you're pretty damned discouraging. That's how I feel unfortunately when I read some of these comments on HN.

byoung2 16y ago
"As a startup enthusiast whose never learned how to code" seems to be the opposite of "Maybe its because you don't know I work in an MVC framework building web pages everyday, or that I admin our servers through SSH. Or that I've built MySQL tables, PHP contact forms, and even used PayPal's API once to forward customers to a download page where they could retrieve the product they paid for."
- coryl 16y ago
  These are technical skills and responsibilities I learned working alongside my programming partner. I still can't program anything functional on my own though. I have experiences relating to programming, but I still do not know how to code. Does this surprise you?
tkahn6 16y ago
I don't think I ever said you had a limited potential. In fact, you have a lot of potential. My point is that it takes a long time to realize most of it and get to the point where you can write good, useful software (realize in the sense of, "to make real"). The reason I outlined the complexities and difficulties of building software is because you asked why byoung2 said that you'd probably never build something useful. The reason is that most likely you'll give up before long. If you stick with it though, there's absolutely no reason whatsoever that you can't be a great programmer. I've never taken a formal class in programming. I am proud of what I know and so I do have an ego when it comes to programming. But I am also being honest with you. It's a long road to becoming a good programmer. It might be easier and it might be expedited by the fact that you're older, but it still takes a long time (which can be frustrating!). As I said, good luck!

by coryl 16y ago

byoung2 16y ago

"As a startup enthusiast whose never learned how to code" seems to be the opposite of "Maybe its because you don't know I work in an MVC framework building web pages everyday, or that I admin our servers through SSH. Or that I've built MySQL tables, PHP contact forms, and even used PayPal's API once to forward customers to a download page where they could retrieve the product they paid for."

coryl 16y ago
These are technical skills and responsibilities I learned working alongside my programming partner. I still can't program anything functional on my own though. I have experiences relating to programming, but I still do not know how to code. Does this surprise you?

tkahn6 16y ago

I don't think I ever said you had a limited potential. In fact, you have a lot of potential. My point is that it takes a long time to realize most of it and get to the point where you can write good, useful software (realize in the sense of, "to make real"). The reason I outlined the complexities and difficulties of building software is because you asked why byoung2 said that you'd probably never build something useful. The reason is that most likely you'll give up before long. If you stick with it though, there's absolutely no reason whatsoever that you can't be a great programmer. I've never taken a formal class in programming. I am proud of what I know and so I do have an ego when it comes to programming. But I am also being honest with you. It's a long road to becoming a good programmer. It might be easier and it might be expedited by the fact that you're older, but it still takes a long time (which can be frustrating!). As I said, good luck!