7 ms·

From being a programmer to becoming an entrepreneur - Lesson 0

118 points by jasim 14y ago

xxiao 14y ago
pretty nice summary. i noticed most similar postings are all about js/python/ruby here, i'm an embedded linux hacker and i wish there is a place we can talk about both hardware and software for products, not just the web, maybe it's time to create one?
- ivanvanderbyl 14y ago
  I'm a ruby developer but I'd be very interested in learning more about embedded programming.
  - comatose_kid 14y ago
    I have done a bunch of embedded development in the past. Embedded.com was a good resource. There's a lot to know so it is difficult to be really concise. Get to know lower level languages if you don't already (c, bit operations). Know how to disassemble code and read it. Monkey around with an arduino, then beagleboard. There are a few good books - anything by jack ganssle (sp?) is usually a good start.
- tsumnia 14y ago
  Definitely agree, though I have more a machine learning background. Simple serial port connections are so foreign to me it is bothersome.
- ngcoders 14y ago
  I too work with embedded linux and arm9's ... HSI has a few people of embedded domain hanging around, so just post what you feel is good and people are there.
  - xxiao 14y ago
    what is HSI? these days I have to join various groups/lists/ircs/etc to interact with embedded world, but nothing like hacknews to spur innovation and new ideas... i have been thinking about building a vendor-neutral site for folks that want to bridge web/UI to embedded devices.
    - ngcoders 14y ago
      sry i meant HN . Yep a more h/w oriented site would be a good idea. problem is very few people are into all this as this is not really a easy to get in domain. A site can be setup in a few hours , problem is building a community.
- irahul 14y ago
  Your comment, apart from "pretty nice summary", is talking about something totally unrelated to the posted article. You should have made a separate "Ask HN" thread. As far as discussing hardware goes, you can post articles yourself.
  - xxiao 14y ago
    I agree, sorry.
  - __abc 14y ago
    Nice comment bro!
mweil 14y ago
This is a great article, Sidu. All of your points speak true to what I have learned going through the same process. I've only been doing the business thing for about 10 months, but already I notice a difference in perspective when speaking to non-entrepreneur engineers. Thanks for writing this.
known 14y ago
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." --George Bernard Shaw
tbergeron 14y ago
I read until I stumbled upon that line: "I've been a programmer since I was six." You're NOT a programmer at six, you are a KID. You can play with computers, but being a programmer is a whole other story. You can tell yourself you're a programmer when you can code through a project by yourself, write classes, do OOP, implement basic concepts, differ public from static, know your data types, and more and more. You are not a programmer until you work as one. That's it and that's the reality. Nowadays kids called themselves programmer, guru, ninja, entrepreneur, etc and it makes me rage and laugh in anger. I'm sorry, your article seems fine, but you've lost all your credibility with this very single line.
- mweil 14y ago
  The author never used any of these adjectives to describe himself (except entrepreneur, which he is entitled to use since he started his own company). I agree with you that they are highly annoying terms to use and diminish our profession. That, however, does not excuse your hostile and unnecessary comment.
- jasim 14y ago
  > You can tell yourself you're a programmer when you can code through a project by yourself, write classes, do OOP, implement basic concepts, differ public from static, know your data types, and more and more. Knowing all that helps, but it doesn't mean you can't produce something meaningful without knowing all that. It would be hard, but doesn't make it impossible. > You are not a programmer until you work as one. That's it and that's the reality. No, you are a programmer when you understand the basics of programming. And that means the very basics. If I consider your argument, then everyone can call themselves a programmer only after being employed as one. What about kids who build software at school? I started writing code for accounting apps when I was around 11. I built what I considered my best work then when I was 14 (https://github.com/jasim/EasyAccounts/blob/master/DOCS/WHATSNEW.txt#L49 https://github.com/jasim/EasyAccounts/blob/master/DOCS/WHATS...). That was a working piece of software that was used by businesses. However - the fact that someone found use for the app is only incidental. The moment you know you can tell computers to do stuff you want to, however limited in scope, is when I would call someone a programmer. LOGO, GW-BASIC, dBase, VB 6, Rails or Haskell. It doesn't matter. [disclaimer: I work with Sidu and when he says he was a programmer at six, I know it is true]
thomasnext 14y ago
"Identify mature, experienced people who can give you candid feedback. It's even better if they're your colleagues. Favour a diverse group with people who have different priorities." This is a great tip. I just realized that my more senior friends mention their "grey beard" older CS friends. I guess I need to pick up some mentors!

118 points by jasim 14y ago

xxiao 14y ago

pretty nice summary. i noticed most similar postings are all about js/python/ruby here, i'm an embedded linux hacker and i wish there is a place we can talk about both hardware and software for products, not just the web, maybe it's time to create one?

ivanvanderbyl 14y ago
I'm a ruby developer but I'd be very interested in learning more about embedded programming.
- comatose_kid 14y ago
  I have done a bunch of embedded development in the past. Embedded.com was a good resource. There's a lot to know so it is difficult to be really concise. Get to know lower level languages if you don't already (c, bit operations). Know how to disassemble code and read it. Monkey around with an arduino, then beagleboard. There are a few good books - anything by jack ganssle (sp?) is usually a good start.
tsumnia 14y ago
Definitely agree, though I have more a machine learning background. Simple serial port connections are so foreign to me it is bothersome.
ngcoders 14y ago
I too work with embedded linux and arm9's ... HSI has a few people of embedded domain hanging around, so just post what you feel is good and people are there.
- xxiao 14y ago
  what is HSI? these days I have to join various groups/lists/ircs/etc to interact with embedded world, but nothing like hacknews to spur innovation and new ideas... i have been thinking about building a vendor-neutral site for folks that want to bridge web/UI to embedded devices.
  - ngcoders 14y ago
    sry i meant HN . Yep a more h/w oriented site would be a good idea. problem is very few people are into all this as this is not really a easy to get in domain. A site can be setup in a few hours , problem is building a community.
irahul 14y ago
Your comment, apart from "pretty nice summary", is talking about something totally unrelated to the posted article. You should have made a separate "Ask HN" thread. As far as discussing hardware goes, you can post articles yourself.
- xxiao 14y ago
  I agree, sorry.
- __abc 14y ago
  Nice comment bro!

mweil 14y ago

This is a great article, Sidu. All of your points speak true to what I have learned going through the same process. I've only been doing the business thing for about 10 months, but already I notice a difference in perspective when speaking to non-entrepreneur engineers. Thanks for writing this.

known 14y ago

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." --George Bernard Shaw

tbergeron 14y ago

I read until I stumbled upon that line: "I've been a programmer since I was six." You're NOT a programmer at six, you are a KID. You can play with computers, but being a programmer is a whole other story. You can tell yourself you're a programmer when you can code through a project by yourself, write classes, do OOP, implement basic concepts, differ public from static, know your data types, and more and more. You are not a programmer until you work as one. That's it and that's the reality. Nowadays kids called themselves programmer, guru, ninja, entrepreneur, etc and it makes me rage and laugh in anger. I'm sorry, your article seems fine, but you've lost all your credibility with this very single line.

mweil 14y ago
The author never used any of these adjectives to describe himself (except entrepreneur, which he is entitled to use since he started his own company). I agree with you that they are highly annoying terms to use and diminish our profession. That, however, does not excuse your hostile and unnecessary comment.
jasim 14y ago
> You can tell yourself you're a programmer when you can code through a project by yourself, write classes, do OOP, implement basic concepts, differ public from static, know your data types, and more and more. Knowing all that helps, but it doesn't mean you can't produce something meaningful without knowing all that. It would be hard, but doesn't make it impossible. > You are not a programmer until you work as one. That's it and that's the reality. No, you are a programmer when you understand the basics of programming. And that means the very basics. If I consider your argument, then everyone can call themselves a programmer only after being employed as one. What about kids who build software at school? I started writing code for accounting apps when I was around 11. I built what I considered my best work then when I was 14 (https://github.com/jasim/EasyAccounts/blob/master/DOCS/WHATSNEW.txt#L49 https://github.com/jasim/EasyAccounts/blob/master/DOCS/WHATS...). That was a working piece of software that was used by businesses. However - the fact that someone found use for the app is only incidental. The moment you know you can tell computers to do stuff you want to, however limited in scope, is when I would call someone a programmer. LOGO, GW-BASIC, dBase, VB 6, Rails or Haskell. It doesn't matter. [disclaimer: I work with Sidu and when he says he was a programmer at six, I know it is true]

thomasnext 14y ago

"Identify mature, experienced people who can give you candid feedback. It's even better if they're your colleagues. Favour a diverse group with people who have different priorities." This is a great tip. I just realized that my more senior friends mention their "grey beard" older CS friends. I guess I need to pick up some mentors!