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What total BS. The truth is that if you ask good programmers, they almost all started before they were 15, most before they were 10. Almost all contributors to
by rabble 15y ago
What total BS. The truth is that if you ask good programmers, they almost all started before they were 15, most before they were 10. Almost all contributors to Debian are the same way. The vast majority DON'T talk about it, it's assumed.
It's pretty damned rare for somebody to learn late in life (after 18). That's the hard ugly truth of the matter.
- jameskilton 15y agoLate in life is after 18? Where in the world did you get this number from? Are you saying that if you're 20 or older you can't learn anything else? Yes it's true that a lot of programmers started early but please you are making the correlation == causation fallacy here. There's NO proof that starting earlier means you're better. I've met some really good programmers who started later in life because they thought they wanted to do something else, and when they found programming, it clicked, and then went crazy with it. Time spent doesn't mean you're better after that time. Time spent trying to get better DOES mean you'll get better over time, and that has nothing to do with how early you start. This also isn't only for programming but any profession.
- extension 15y agoI don't see where the post you replied to implied causation.
- jameskilton 15y agoWhat I read is he said "as many good programmers started programming young, it must then be true that starting young makes you a good programmer."
- gte910h 15y agoWhat are you talking about? I've met plenty of excellent programmers who started when they were 18/19. I'm sure it's possible to learn later as well. Programming well is hard, but not that hard. Also, Debian contributors aren't a really good group to take samples out of...
- ericmoritz 15y agohave you ever asked bad programmers when they started?
- gte910h 15y agoI actually did once. Worst C++ coder I ever worked with got a 5 on the AP exam in high school.