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A number of years ago I wrote a bunch of Verilog code and ran simulations during a flight from LA to NY. The code, save a few minor issues, worked perfectly wh

A number of years ago I wrote a bunch of Verilog code and ran simulations during a flight from LA to NY. The code, save a few minor issues, worked perfectly when tested on hardware. What's remarcable about this is that I wrote the code with pen and paper and ran the simulations similarly by hand on graph paper. No computer involved. After a couple of similar experiences I've resorted to using flights as an excuse to unplug for a few hours. A set of good noise cancelling headphones and a notebook can give you an opportunity to explore and think in ways that might be nearly impossible at the office.

gwright 13y ago
I often print out code and mark it up on paper. For some reason I get a more holistic view of the code on paper than I can paging or searching through it on the screen.
GrinningFool 13y ago
I've gotten out of the habit of this, and honestly don't know if I'm better off for it. When I didn't have access to a computer, I would fairly regularly 'implement' designs with pen and paper and test it too. As you experienced, these would then work perfectly or nearly so on actual systems. Now I almost always have a computer or computer-like device at hand so there's just no need. Sometimes it feels like this results in more experimenting, but less thinking.
- robomartin 13y ago
  > less thinking. That's exactly my point in a way. I realized that I am always immersed in technology. There are one or more screens of some sort in front of me nearly any time I am awake. A lot of us have lost contact with the idea and practice of thinking. Of talking to yourself. Perhaps doodling in a notebook to explore ideas and thoughts in your mind. For some reason I started to use flights as an excuse to practice thought. As noisy and uncomfortable as that environment can be I have found it amazingly effective for the simple task of letting my mind take trips in various directions with nothing but a piece of paper and a pen in front of me. I no-longer do paper-coding in flight. I think.
  - GrinningFool 13y ago
    Flights are unpleasant enough for me that try to find some mindless entertainment to make the time go faster. I'm too tall to comfortably use a computer in my seat (especially when the ass-hat in front of me inevitably reclines). I don't know when unapplied thinking dropped from my list of entertainment options... I have a trip coming up next week, seems like it might be a good opportunity to try to do something a bit more useful. Thanks for your original comment and the sidebar conversation that led me to realize it'd be a Good Thing to get back to it!

gwright 13y ago

I often print out code and mark it up on paper. For some reason I get a more holistic view of the code on paper than I can paging or searching through it on the screen.

GrinningFool 13y ago

I've gotten out of the habit of this, and honestly don't know if I'm better off for it. When I didn't have access to a computer, I would fairly regularly 'implement' designs with pen and paper and test it too. As you experienced, these would then work perfectly or nearly so on actual systems. Now I almost always have a computer or computer-like device at hand so there's just no need. Sometimes it feels like this results in more experimenting, but less thinking.

robomartin 13y ago
> less thinking. That's exactly my point in a way. I realized that I am always immersed in technology. There are one or more screens of some sort in front of me nearly any time I am awake. A lot of us have lost contact with the idea and practice of thinking. Of talking to yourself. Perhaps doodling in a notebook to explore ideas and thoughts in your mind. For some reason I started to use flights as an excuse to practice thought. As noisy and uncomfortable as that environment can be I have found it amazingly effective for the simple task of letting my mind take trips in various directions with nothing but a piece of paper and a pen in front of me. I no-longer do paper-coding in flight. I think.
- GrinningFool 13y ago
  Flights are unpleasant enough for me that try to find some mindless entertainment to make the time go faster. I'm too tall to comfortably use a computer in my seat (especially when the ass-hat in front of me inevitably reclines). I don't know when unapplied thinking dropped from my list of entertainment options... I have a trip coming up next week, seems like it might be a good opportunity to try to do something a bit more useful. Thanks for your original comment and the sidebar conversation that led me to realize it'd be a Good Thing to get back to it!