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I can buy that I guess. Probably the main philosophical disagreement I have with the article is summed up by (and probably the rest of the article was tainted

I can buy that I guess. Probably the main philosophical disagreement I have with the article is summed up by (and probably the rest of the article was tainted by) the opening line: > I was searching around for a quote along the lines of you only being as good as the tools you use I personally (fully aware it's a quirk of mine that others don't seem to share) feel that fancy tools are often a crutch for a lack of understanding. Granted, this guy looks to have a long list of accomplishments, so good for him for wanting a fancy set up. If it brings him joy then more power to him.

wolco 6y ago
I've always felt you are only as good as you are when your tools are taken away.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- Reelin 6y ago
  I think it's bad to let your tools become a crutch to avoid gaining a deeper understanding. That being said, if you take a software developer's CPU away what are they supposed to do - build their own foundry? Same for electrical engineers - can they really be faulted for an inability to design a modern chip without the help of extensive tooling? (I'm certainly nowhere near being capable of implementing my own C++ compiler from scratch.)
  - WalterBright 6y ago
    > I'm certainly nowhere near being capable of implementing my own C++ compiler from scratch. It's not that bad. A couple months and you're good to go.
    - rdc12 6y ago
      I doubt even you would be that keen to write a C++17 compiler from scratch :P
      - war1025 6y ago
        For context, the person you replied to is the author of the D language.
      - WalterBright 6y ago
        I did write a C++98 compiler from scratch. I then was consumed by writing a D compiler, but the later C++ versions aren't hard from a compiler perspective.
hellisothers 6y ago
I feel you, In several areas of my life (computers, stereo, photography, old truck, etc) I go overboard in building whatever it is I’m working on not because I strictly need that amazingness but because I enjoy having constructed it and the feel of using a fine instrument. Building and using it sparks joy. I also am irked by people who buy and use amazing things and display said amazing thing from a position of “I am amazing therefore I need amazing things” or vice versa. I dunno, it seems really inauthentic or something. I’m getting a little of that vibe from this article but OTOH I’m also getting a lot of the “Building and using great instruments sparks joy” vibe too and I think the former may just be coming across by virtue of writing a blog post to share the latter so, oh well :)

wolco 6y ago

I've always felt you are only as good as you are when your tools are taken away.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
Reelin 6y ago
I think it's bad to let your tools become a crutch to avoid gaining a deeper understanding. That being said, if you take a software developer's CPU away what are they supposed to do - build their own foundry? Same for electrical engineers - can they really be faulted for an inability to design a modern chip without the help of extensive tooling? (I'm certainly nowhere near being capable of implementing my own C++ compiler from scratch.)
- WalterBright 6y ago
  > I'm certainly nowhere near being capable of implementing my own C++ compiler from scratch. It's not that bad. A couple months and you're good to go.
  - rdc12 6y ago
    I doubt even you would be that keen to write a C++17 compiler from scratch :P
    - war1025 6y ago
      For context, the person you replied to is the author of the D language.
    - WalterBright 6y ago
      I did write a C++98 compiler from scratch. I then was consumed by writing a D compiler, but the later C++ versions aren't hard from a compiler perspective.

hellisothers 6y ago

I feel you, In several areas of my life (computers, stereo, photography, old truck, etc) I go overboard in building whatever it is I’m working on not because I strictly need that amazingness but because I enjoy having constructed it and the feel of using a fine instrument. Building and using it sparks joy. I also am irked by people who buy and use amazing things and display said amazing thing from a position of “I am amazing therefore I need amazing things” or vice versa. I dunno, it seems really inauthentic or something. I’m getting a little of that vibe from this article but OTOH I’m also getting a lot of the “Building and using great instruments sparks joy” vibe too and I think the former may just be coming across by virtue of writing a blog post to share the latter so, oh well :)