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"Also, it's probably helpful to learn a new language without the instant crutch of auto-completion features." How is that? Why is poring over the API docs of a

by roel_v 15y ago

"Also, it's probably helpful to learn a new language without the instant crutch of auto-completion features." How is that? Why is poring over the API docs of a library to find out if you need GetSize(), get_count() or Count() better than having the computer look it up for you while you're typing? Auto-complete doesn't help in learning a language, only in using an API - and at that it's good. I guess I'm being all Statler and Waldorf here, but the hipster 'look at me I only need a text editor' is bullshit. In the OP the author boasts about using makefiles FFS! If there is one over-'engineered', obscure, bandaid-over-bandaid 'solution' for problems that only exist because of historical cruft and that is inscrutable to beginners, it's make!

Roboprog 15y ago
I rather like "make". Far preferable to "ant", IMHO. Some make features are perhaps a bit obscure, but the basic structure of: output.file: input.1 input.2 build_it input.* -o output.file is quite straightforward.
- roel_v 15y ago
  OK I'll concede that make on its own in its most basic form isn't all that bad (although it's not hard to make anything look good by comparing it with Ant); it's the autotools toolchain that makes it such a jungle. Which is, strictly speaking, separate from make, and is what I was mostly agitating against.
ldh 15y ago
I guess I'm being all Statler and Waldorf here, but the hipster 'look at me I only need a text editor' is bullshit. I'll grant you that it's been a fairly annoying meme over the last year or two, but people are being productive every day using text editors and they probably don't care whether you think it's bullshit or not. Be productive and use what you like. Since you have such a strong reaction to it I'd love to know why you think it's "bullshit".
- roel_v 15y ago
  Of course, I use vim every day too. I also use Visual Studio every day, and the things for which I use Visual Studio would take me 3 times as long if I had to do that with vim - and vice versa. It's a good thing too that most people don't pay too much attention to what I think, it would have a rather devastating effect on the world I'm afraid. (what I think is bullshit is the reflex where somebody learns something new and before reaching the level of competence where one starts finding flaws and drawbacks of said thing starts advocating it to the rest of the world as the silver bullet that will solve all problems. I recognize the pattern all too well since I've fallen so often for it myself. It's the exuberance of youth I guess.)

by roel_v 15y ago

Roboprog 15y ago

I rather like "make". Far preferable to "ant", IMHO. Some make features are perhaps a bit obscure, but the basic structure of: output.file: input.1 input.2 build_it input.* -o output.file is quite straightforward.

roel_v 15y ago
OK I'll concede that make on its own in its most basic form isn't all that bad (although it's not hard to make anything look good by comparing it with Ant); it's the autotools toolchain that makes it such a jungle. Which is, strictly speaking, separate from make, and is what I was mostly agitating against.

ldh 15y ago

I guess I'm being all Statler and Waldorf here, but the hipster 'look at me I only need a text editor' is bullshit. I'll grant you that it's been a fairly annoying meme over the last year or two, but people are being productive every day using text editors and they probably don't care whether you think it's bullshit or not. Be productive and use what you like. Since you have such a strong reaction to it I'd love to know why you think it's "bullshit".

roel_v 15y ago
Of course, I use vim every day too. I also use Visual Studio every day, and the things for which I use Visual Studio would take me 3 times as long if I had to do that with vim - and vice versa. It's a good thing too that most people don't pay too much attention to what I think, it would have a rather devastating effect on the world I'm afraid. (what I think is bullshit is the reflex where somebody learns something new and before reaching the level of competence where one starts finding flaws and drawbacks of said thing starts advocating it to the rest of the world as the silver bullet that will solve all problems. I recognize the pattern all too well since I've fallen so often for it myself. It's the exuberance of youth I guess.)