1. Deep deep knowledge of your text editor. I am biased towards Vim, but many others can work if you know them inside and out. 2. Learning multiple programming

1. Deep deep knowledge of your text editor. I am biased towards Vim, but many others can work if you know them inside and out. 2. Learning multiple programming paradigms, bare minimum 1 declarative and 1 imperative language. Build something substantial. 3. Understanding yourself, what times you work best, diet, fitness etc. I find where and the setting of where I am working is extremely important. 4. Broad (but not necessarily deep) knowledge of DS&A. Knowing a thing exists is enough to search it. 5. Broad (and preferably deep) knowledge of computers on a fundamental level. An approximate understanding of what the statements you are typing into the machine are “translated” to at each stage.