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Maybe many beginners might be jumping to videos. I'd like to think that most of the experienced developers like text more as they can quickly scroll past the bi

Maybe many beginners might be jumping to videos. I'd like to think that most of the experienced developers like text more as they can quickly scroll past the bits that are irrelevant to them and look for the parts that are interesting. It is harder to do so for a video as you typically have no idea at which point the person will tell you about the concept you were looking for (unless you get some timestamp list but even then you may need to wade through some fluff/water before you get to the juicy bits).

rightbyte 4y ago
Ye videos are really bad as a manual for programming. Usually you just want the code pointing you in the right direction and if the writer was nice the header file is included in the snippet. For e.g. repairing cars it is really great.
- gonzo41 4y ago
  I find with programming video's the information density is really low. The best channels is where there's no introduction or it's in chapters and easily skipeped.
ripe 4y ago
When looking for information, I despise videos and will avoid watching them if at all possible. For exactly the reasons you mention: random access, too much fluff and low information content. The only exception is things like home repair advice, fixing washing machines, etc. I assume that the people with most knowledge of these skills are more likely to produce videos than write down something.
- deltarholamda 4y ago
  I agree that the sort of people who do home repair, car repair, etc. are much, much more likely to put a video together (low friction) than to put up a well-written and illustrated instruction manual. But I still hate it. The video is always too long, has too much non-relevant stuff in it, and a phone camera jammed under a water pump to see the frobnitz valve or whatever is never as good as an exploded view illustration. Forget AI-powered lawyers and AI-powered fantasy art generators, let's get an AI-powered technical writer and AI-powered technical illustrator going. Train them on Haynes manuals until you can ask them to generate an accurate repair guide for a Kenmore washing machine.
- ElFitz 4y ago
  That’s pretty much why I’m working on summarising content, no matter the media. Just getting started, but it has already yielded some fun results.

rightbyte 4y ago

Ye videos are really bad as a manual for programming. Usually you just want the code pointing you in the right direction and if the writer was nice the header file is included in the snippet. For e.g. repairing cars it is really great.

gonzo41 4y ago
I find with programming video's the information density is really low. The best channels is where there's no introduction or it's in chapters and easily skipeped.

ripe 4y ago

When looking for information, I despise videos and will avoid watching them if at all possible. For exactly the reasons you mention: random access, too much fluff and low information content. The only exception is things like home repair advice, fixing washing machines, etc. I assume that the people with most knowledge of these skills are more likely to produce videos than write down something.

deltarholamda 4y ago
I agree that the sort of people who do home repair, car repair, etc. are much, much more likely to put a video together (low friction) than to put up a well-written and illustrated instruction manual. But I still hate it. The video is always too long, has too much non-relevant stuff in it, and a phone camera jammed under a water pump to see the frobnitz valve or whatever is never as good as an exploded view illustration. Forget AI-powered lawyers and AI-powered fantasy art generators, let's get an AI-powered technical writer and AI-powered technical illustrator going. Train them on Haynes manuals until you can ask them to generate an accurate repair guide for a Kenmore washing machine.
ElFitz 4y ago
That’s pretty much why I’m working on summarising content, no matter the media. Just getting started, but it has already yielded some fun results.