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1) It is actually worse than having to compete with the best programmers in the world. Rapid development tools and high level abstractions have created the same

by iqster 15y ago

1) It is actually worse than having to compete with the best programmers in the world. Rapid development tools and high level abstractions have created the same sort of "level playing field" as the handgun did (i.e. a small weak guy with a gun can take on Hercules). 2) As you get older, some people realize that you don't have to compete. You don't have to be the smartest person in the room. Your life experiences make you unique. It might so happen your unique perspective is what is needed to make some breakthrough happen. You come to realize how much being in the right place at the right time matters more than anything else. Intellectually, I know #2 to hold true. But that doesn't stop me from feeling that I'm not reaching my full potential :(

davedx 15y ago
Also in addition to getting older, your perspective changes, especially if you end up doing something life-changing like starting a family. Then I think you might find you care a lot less about jobskill insecurities, but that this laid back attitude may actually help you.
eric-hu 15y ago
1) It is actually better having to compete with better programmers. At the end of the day, you're challenged more and sure, you may be further from the top than you would be if you were born 30 years ago. At the same time, you can accomplish more today than you could if you were born 30 years ago. It's all because of those better tools and better programmers out there.
espeed 15y ago
Your life experiences make you unique. It might so happen your unique perspective is what is needed to make some breakthrough happen. Spot on (see http://jamesthornton.com/manifesto http://jamesthornton.com/manifesto).
lloeki 15y ago
> You don't have to compete. [...] It might so happen your unique perspective is what is needed to make some breakthrough happen. Precisely: stand on the shoulders of giants. It does require work to climb all the way up, but just not as much as would be needed to redo all that made them giants.

by iqster 15y ago

davedx 15y ago

Also in addition to getting older, your perspective changes, especially if you end up doing something life-changing like starting a family. Then I think you might find you care a lot less about jobskill insecurities, but that this laid back attitude may actually help you.

eric-hu 15y ago

1) It is actually better having to compete with better programmers. At the end of the day, you're challenged more and sure, you may be further from the top than you would be if you were born 30 years ago. At the same time, you can accomplish more today than you could if you were born 30 years ago. It's all because of those better tools and better programmers out there.

espeed 15y ago

Your life experiences make you unique. It might so happen your unique perspective is what is needed to make some breakthrough happen. Spot on (see http://jamesthornton.com/manifesto http://jamesthornton.com/manifesto).

lloeki 15y ago

> You don't have to compete. [...] It might so happen your unique perspective is what is needed to make some breakthrough happen. Precisely: stand on the shoulders of giants. It does require work to climb all the way up, but just not as much as would be needed to redo all that made them giants.