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I didn't interpret the comment to be about not working, but rather about the non-linear nature of programming work. If you have 100 documents to process then yo

I didn't interpret the comment to be about not working, but rather about the non-linear nature of programming work. If you have 100 documents to process then you are halfway through after 50 and it will presumably take a similar amount of time as the first 50 did. When writing code you might have written 10 lines of code in the past week, but the next day you write 200 because you've been thinking about the structure of the solution. In this way you might be working even if you're going on a walk or doing the dishes. This isn't unique to programming, of course.

odonnellryan 5y ago
Agreed. I probably think about the problems I am trying to solve during most of the day. However, I don't think that is really work. That is just my brain not being able to shut off. And it isn't concentrated work - it is off and on.
rramadass 5y ago
>about the non-linear nature of programming work You hit the nail right on the head. This is the main thing that non-programmers (i.e. Management) need to understand about "Programmers" and the key to "Manage" them effectively.
- mihaigalos 5y ago
  Steve Jobs had an opinion on this with which I agree: > The greatest people are self-managing -- they don't need to be managed. Once they know what to do, they'll go figure out how to do it. What they need is a common vision. And that's what leadership is: having a vision; being able to articulate that so the people around you can understand it; and getting a consensus on a common vision.
  - rramadass 5y ago
    Good quote. Related quote from Scott McNealy : "Agree and commit, Disagree and commit, or get out of the way." Too many times Management/Leadership devolves into giving orders without having a clue. It then becomes nothing more than a power trip to the detriment of everything and everybody. All "Good" people just need Autonomy, Vision, Freedom and stellar Results will auto-magically follow.
abootstrapper 5y ago
If you really have a breakthrough you rewrite that 200 lines of code from last week to 10.

odonnellryan 5y ago

Agreed. I probably think about the problems I am trying to solve during most of the day. However, I don't think that is really work. That is just my brain not being able to shut off. And it isn't concentrated work - it is off and on.

rramadass 5y ago

>about the non-linear nature of programming work You hit the nail right on the head. This is the main thing that non-programmers (i.e. Management) need to understand about "Programmers" and the key to "Manage" them effectively.

mihaigalos 5y ago
Steve Jobs had an opinion on this with which I agree: > The greatest people are self-managing -- they don't need to be managed. Once they know what to do, they'll go figure out how to do it. What they need is a common vision. And that's what leadership is: having a vision; being able to articulate that so the people around you can understand it; and getting a consensus on a common vision.
- rramadass 5y ago
  Good quote. Related quote from Scott McNealy : "Agree and commit, Disagree and commit, or get out of the way." Too many times Management/Leadership devolves into giving orders without having a clue. It then becomes nothing more than a power trip to the detriment of everything and everybody. All "Good" people just need Autonomy, Vision, Freedom and stellar Results will auto-magically follow.

abootstrapper 5y ago

If you really have a breakthrough you rewrite that 200 lines of code from last week to 10.