3 ms·

10x programmers do not exist, because programming ability is not a scalar. Give a hello-world task to write to an average programmer and a super-hero programmer

10x programmers do not exist, because programming ability is not a scalar. Give a hello-world task to write to an average programmer and a super-hero programmer. You won't probably see a big difference in their productivity. Actually if the task is too easy, your super-hero might get bored and become even less-productive thn the average programmer. Now give them something really hard to solve. If the task is hard enough, there are chances your average programmer would give up, regardless the amount of time you give him to solve the problem.

RogerL 11y ago
'10x' isn't meant literally. No one thinks there is one number we can assign to people (a lot of what we talk about isn't exactly measurable), and then one people is 10x some other person. Well, probably a few use it literally, but most don't.
- pkolaczk 11y ago
  Oh, yeah, I agree, but many people are taking this too-literally. That's why I don't like this label and call them "super-hero" programmers or "rock-star" programmers. As far as I remember the original term "10x" was created after some studies finding the differences between the worst and the best programmers. But this didn't mean there was nothing in the middle, only that the variance was high. And I completely agree there are plenty of really terrible programmers, so being 10x better is actually an easy task if you compare to them ;)
- jghn 11y ago
  One of my beefs with the 10x term is that being concrete it leads to people taking it literally. These silly buzzwords have a way of ending up literal reality
CSMastermind 11y ago
I can use your logic to prove that no one is good at anything: "Super star athletes do not exist, because athletic ability is not a scalar. Ask a little league player to hit a tee-ball 15 feet and an MLB player. The ball will get to 15 feet at roughly the same time. Actually since it's too easy, your super-hero might get bored and become even slower then the little league player. Now ask them to hit a home run at Wrigley Field. The little league player would give up, regardless the amount of time you give him."
- pkolaczk 11y ago
  I never said super-star programmers do not exist. I just don't like the term "10x" because it suggests there is some scalar measure of skill.
  - SamReidHughes 11y ago
    There are many scalar measures of skill. They are well-correlated with one another.
- mangeletti 11y ago
  I ROFL when I read your comment, in all of its awesomeness. I have a feeling that, if more people used analogies like this, the world would be a better place, because people would actually understand things they read.

RogerL 11y ago

'10x' isn't meant literally. No one thinks there is one number we can assign to people (a lot of what we talk about isn't exactly measurable), and then one people is 10x some other person. Well, probably a few use it literally, but most don't.

pkolaczk 11y ago
Oh, yeah, I agree, but many people are taking this too-literally. That's why I don't like this label and call them "super-hero" programmers or "rock-star" programmers. As far as I remember the original term "10x" was created after some studies finding the differences between the worst and the best programmers. But this didn't mean there was nothing in the middle, only that the variance was high. And I completely agree there are plenty of really terrible programmers, so being 10x better is actually an easy task if you compare to them ;)
jghn 11y ago
One of my beefs with the 10x term is that being concrete it leads to people taking it literally. These silly buzzwords have a way of ending up literal reality

CSMastermind 11y ago

I can use your logic to prove that no one is good at anything: "Super star athletes do not exist, because athletic ability is not a scalar. Ask a little league player to hit a tee-ball 15 feet and an MLB player. The ball will get to 15 feet at roughly the same time. Actually since it's too easy, your super-hero might get bored and become even slower then the little league player. Now ask them to hit a home run at Wrigley Field. The little league player would give up, regardless the amount of time you give him."

pkolaczk 11y ago
I never said super-star programmers do not exist. I just don't like the term "10x" because it suggests there is some scalar measure of skill.
- SamReidHughes 11y ago
  There are many scalar measures of skill. They are well-correlated with one another.
mangeletti 11y ago
I ROFL when I read your comment, in all of its awesomeness. I have a feeling that, if more people used analogies like this, the world would be a better place, because people would actually understand things they read.