This is one of those posts where someone in a profession mistakes their professional experience for the understanding of how people work. Although not explicit,

This is one of those posts where someone in a profession mistakes their professional experience for the understanding of how people work. Although not explicit, there is perhaps an implication that one should TRY to have these things to be brilliant. Many of these habits are a byproduct of personality traits, which are largely plastic. Tinkering and lots of projects indicates high levels of Openness(HEXACO- openness to experience). Low Neuroticism can play a large part in the point about environmental fragility. Great software engineers can (from MY experience and largely the collective commentary of hacker news) have a variety of dispositions.