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That's how I generally feel about it. Strategies like these are usually covering up the symptoms while leaving the root problems in place. "We aren't arguing so
by ysavir 6y ago
That's how I generally feel about it. Strategies like these are usually covering up the symptoms while leaving the root problems in place. "We aren't arguing so it's clearly going well".
Thing is, I _want_ my team members to argue over coding styles and patterns. I _want_ people to present different techniques and approaches, and for everyone to weigh in with what they like and they don't like. I _want_ people to be pushed to consider new things and and perspectives, and to challenge their accepted notions on how to code.
The true root cause, I think, is that many people know how to argue, but very few people now how to argue constructively. Where the goal isn't for one person to win, but for everyone to discuss ideas while tracing back our shared interests until the proper solution presents itself. I wish more people took the time to develop such a skill.
- imwillofficial 6y agoAs somebody who was faced today with the lack of that specific skill, can you recommend any good reading?
- ysavir 6y agoI don't know of any good reading, but I suggest you start with some proactive good listening.
- wikyd 6y agoI learned a lot about how to debate more constructively second-hand from my business partner who took the class referenced here [1]. The “crossing the net” tool was especially helpful to me once I started actively noticing how often I did it. Really trying to follow that forced me to ask better questions to understand where my views differed and why. All 5 tips are good areas to reflect on and experiment with, though. [1] https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-key-lessons-from-the-Touchy-Feely-class-at-the-Stanford-GSB/answer/Sumi-Kim?ch=10&share=cb4c8360&srid=a9G https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-key-lessons-from-the-Touc...
- jrsj 6y agoPatterns are good but the minutiae that most linters deal with aren’t that. A discussion over formatting rules is more often than not a distraction and a waste of time — if it’s not there, better discussion can come out of code review.
- vidarh 6y agoNotice how in these threads, the people who think that the specific formatting doesn't matter tends to be the ones supporting tools that tries to force a specific formatting. To me the formatting does matter. It is a major factor in how comprehensible a code-base is, and often having freedom to deviate from the expected rules to line things up in certain ways helps to convey patterns and similarity that matters.
- ysavir 6y agoThat differs from my opinion on the matter. If two programmers disagree over formatting, I want to learn the needs of each programmer and how those needs inform their formatting preference. Understanding each others needs, and being respectful of each others needs, is a primary component of good teamwork. Those needs aren't exposed when a linter prevents the variance from ever becoming clear.