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I feel this applies to programming, too. I do not buy that some people can "just program" and others cannot.

by scott_s 13y ago

Someone 13y ago
Very few people invent math or learn programming on their own without any help, but there are huge differences in innate ability. I don't agree with the author's claim "The difference between good at math and bad at math is hard work." I have a M. Sc in math, but never worked hard at it. I went to the classes, paid attention to what was told and visited most of the exercise classes, but, except for the first few weeks, never prepared for either of them. That left plenty of time to spend on other things, such as sport and reading the art of computer programming, Compute! Magazine, Byte, etc. (partly because of that, I am not that good at math) IMO, it is the same with about everything else. For example, there are people who just throw a baseball well, and there are those who can learn to throw a decent one through hard work.
- ErikAugust 13y ago
  I think programming is much easier to "learn on your own". I would define "learn on your own" as without an instructor - so with books, tutorials, etc. Two reasons: 1. The desire to create something or solve a real problem 2. The interpreter
- _delirium 13y ago
  I think you would at least need to take a fairly broad view of "innate" that extends past the literal moment of embryo fertilization. How someone's raised in childhood can have a huge impact on what seems innate by the time they get to their teenage years. I've been "good with computers" since a young age, for example, but I also had an Apple //c in my house since I was 3 years old, and parents who encouraged me to use it. I don't think my teenage computer proficiency would have been the same if that had not been the case.
netrikare 13y ago
This. Whenever someone tells me programming is some kind of magic I tell them to write me a note with steps of making pancakes. That's the most basic form of programming I can think of. That opens their eyes.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
upquark 13y ago
Well people have varying abilities towards algorithmic thinking, abstraction/generalization, spatial reasoning, creativity, focus and attention to detail, etc.

I feel this applies to programming, too. I do not buy that some people can "just program" and others cannot.

by scott_s 13y ago

I feel this applies to programming, too. I do not buy that some people can "just program" and others cannot.

Very few people invent math or learn programming on their own without any help, but there are huge differences in innate ability. I don't agree with the author's claim "The difference between good at math and bad at math is hard work." I have a M. Sc in math, but never worked hard at it. I went to the classes, paid attention to what was told and visited most of the exercise classes, but, except for the first few weeks, never prepared for either of them. That left plenty of time to spend on other things, such as sport and reading the art of computer programming, Compute! Magazine, Byte, etc. (partly because of that, I am not that good at math) IMO, it is the same with about everything else. For example, there are people who just throw a baseball well, and there are those who can learn to throw a decent one through hard work.

ErikAugust 13y ago
I think programming is much easier to "learn on your own". I would define "learn on your own" as without an instructor - so with books, tutorials, etc. Two reasons: 1. The desire to create something or solve a real problem 2. The interpreter
_delirium 13y ago
I think you would at least need to take a fairly broad view of "innate" that extends past the literal moment of embryo fertilization. How someone's raised in childhood can have a huge impact on what seems innate by the time they get to their teenage years. I've been "good with computers" since a young age, for example, but I also had an Apple //c in my house since I was 3 years old, and parents who encouraged me to use it. I don't think my teenage computer proficiency would have been the same if that had not been the case.

netrikare 13y ago

This. Whenever someone tells me programming is some kind of magic I tell them to write me a note with steps of making pancakes. That's the most basic form of programming I can think of. That opens their eyes.

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]

upquark 13y ago

Well people have varying abilities towards algorithmic thinking, abstraction/generalization, spatial reasoning, creativity, focus and attention to detail, etc.