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What it takes: my thoughts on how to become a great programmer
- 51Cards 16y agoI have always said this: "You show me a kid who knows how to create with Lego and I will show you a kid I can turn into a great programmer" Lego is the best coder test I know. You have to be able to envision the final goal, you have to know how to assemble that vision using the limited component pieces available, you have to know how to work around the tool's limitations, and above all you have love to create.
- sayemm 16y agoI think those qualities are just a few of the things in talented hackers that also make them naturally strong entrepreneurs too. Tenacity, creativity, and a love for solving problems and building things...
- manish_chhabra 16y agoI would like to see something about testing capabilities of a great programmer.
- StudyAnimal 16y agoI haven't found anything much better than this: http://www.indiangeek.net/wp-content/uploads/Programmer%20competency%20matrix.htm http://www.indiangeek.net/wp-content/uploads/Programmer%20co... I expected to see something great coming from the Software Craftsmanship movement, but their idea of being a great programmer is basically using XP, and satisfying customer requirements, with no surprises. To me that is just being an average professional programmer.
- woan 16y agoOuch, I think all of these miss the mark. They just lead to solving problems and writing great code. But those aren't the mark of a great programmer, just a good programmer as they don't imply that they build things of worth. Great programmers build things that mean something, and they build them well. The bottom line is great programmers care. They care for their mission, their users, and their craft.