Comments on: Becoming a better programmer takes exercise http://rc3.org/2010/04/25/becoming-a-better-programmer/ Strong opinions weakly held Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:59:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Stijn Debrouwere http://rc3.org/2010/04/25/becoming-a-better-programmer/comment-page-1/#comment-8652 Stijn Debrouwere Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:53:41 +0000 http://rc3.org/?p=11027#comment-8652 <p>Agreed. My programming aptitude has definitely suffered because I don't sit down often enough to do any kind of semi-formal learning, like taking a few hours to memorize the subtleties of regexp syntax or hacking away on some difficult recursive algorithm to sharpen the mind.</p> <p>The internet unfortunately encourages this kind of behavior, because docs are often a minute away. Human nature probably has something to do with it as well — programmers' variety of <a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/activeuserparadox.html" rel="nofollow">the paradox of the active user</a>.</p> <p>I don't see it as an indication of personal failure, though — we already expect so much of ourselves in terms of lifelong learning — but rather as an encouragement to improve and keep improving.</p> Agreed. My programming aptitude has definitely suffered because I don’t sit down often enough to do any kind of semi-formal learning, like taking a few hours to memorize the subtleties of regexp syntax or hacking away on some difficult recursive algorithm to sharpen the mind.

The internet unfortunately encourages this kind of behavior, because docs are often a minute away. Human nature probably has something to do with it as well — programmers’ variety of the paradox of the active user.

I don’t see it as an indication of personal failure, though — we already expect so much of ourselves in terms of lifelong learning — but rather as an encouragement to improve and keep improving.

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