Just lazy or no time?
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I only visit Code Project from time to time nowadays but a couple of years ago when I did more (C++) programming, I got plenty of useful information from the articles hosted here. However, I only asked a question once or twice in the forums when I was stuck and couldn't get the info from Google or MSDN. I noticed in the VC++ forum (might be the same in other forums) that people are asking *very* basic questions frequently, stuff that one could easily find in books, MSDN or Google. Also, some guys seem to think that they should be able to write advanced code without even having basic knowledge of the language they are using. I'm curious, is this just just lazyness or are these guys under so much pressure that they don't have time to research properly or learn the basics first? Michael
The 'quality' of the questions in the C++ forum has steadily gone downhill. The number of homework questions and 'I need the source code for Microsoft Excel' requests have risen quite a bit. As others have mentioned, it appears there are a lot of very junior or poorly trained programmers being dumped into projects with significant technical challenges. Chris's guidelines at the top of the forum are ignored :(.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
Personally I think the best use for programming forums is to get the correct terminology from others with more experience so you can go on to search for it in google. These days when I ask questions they tend to be after a long fruitless search and what I want to know is what the terminology is that I *should* be searching for. That's what I think programming forum users should be encouraged to do in the 21 century.
Modo vincis, modo vinceris.
John Cardinal wrote:
Personally I think the best use for programming forums is to get the correct terminology from others with more experience so you can go on to search for it in google. These days when I ask questions they tend to be after a long fruitless search and what I want to know is what the terminology is that I *should* be searching for.
Although I never decided that's the only time I should ask questions, it usually ends up being that way. Just the other day I asked about the name of an algorithm so that I could go look it up myself. I will only ever ask a question if a) the answer I need is more complex than can be summed up in a Google query (meaning, searching Google is fruitless) or b) I don't know where to start my search so I need some help. Everything else I learn on my own. I suppose I was always under the faulty assumption that most people did the same thing, but it's disheartening to visit the technical forums and read the questions. I do sometimes, because I like to try to be helpful, but really it seems to be an exercise in futility.
The early bird who catches the worm works for someone who comes in late and owns the worm farm. -- Travis McGee
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The 'quality' of the questions in the C++ forum has steadily gone downhill. The number of homework questions and 'I need the source code for Microsoft Excel' requests have risen quite a bit. As others have mentioned, it appears there are a lot of very junior or poorly trained programmers being dumped into projects with significant technical challenges. Chris's guidelines at the top of the forum are ignored :(.
Software Zen:
delete this;Gary R. Wheeler wrote:
The 'quality' of the questions in the C++ forum has steadily gone downhill.
I agree, and it is happening in other forums here.
Gary R. Wheeler wrote:
The number of homework questions
Must be the beginning of a new semester or quarter...
Gary R. Wheeler wrote:
it appears there are a lot of very junior or poorly trained programmers being dumped into projects with significant technical challenges.
Or some HR idiot that doesn't know what kind of candidate really needs to be hired for the job...
"Try asking what you want to know, rather than asking a question whose answer you know." - Christian Graus
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The 'quality' of the questions in the C++ forum has steadily gone downhill. The number of homework questions and 'I need the source code for Microsoft Excel' requests have risen quite a bit. As others have mentioned, it appears there are a lot of very junior or poorly trained programmers being dumped into projects with significant technical challenges. Chris's guidelines at the top of the forum are ignored :(.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
I only visit Code Project from time to time nowadays but a couple of years ago when I did more (C++) programming, I got plenty of useful information from the articles hosted here. However, I only asked a question once or twice in the forums when I was stuck and couldn't get the info from Google or MSDN. I noticed in the VC++ forum (might be the same in other forums) that people are asking *very* basic questions frequently, stuff that one could easily find in books, MSDN or Google. Also, some guys seem to think that they should be able to write advanced code without even having basic knowledge of the language they are using. I'm curious, is this just just lazyness or are these guys under so much pressure that they don't have time to research properly or learn the basics first? Michael
It's called evolution. Give it time. They'll be dead soon (from the career perspective) and then things will get better. Yes, as the global economy emerges we are seeing a lot of this. Outsourcing is the biggest problem and India is the epicenter of it. India has some fantastic talent and the huge emergence of outsourcing there has allowed a lot of lousy developers to find work just to meet the demand. But in conversations I have had with Indians and even Chinese they are starting to get a better grip on those types of developers and they are starting to refine the quality/quantity of work coming out of India/China. We are in a state of flux right now where some very high end outsourcing companies in India are trimming the fat which is allowing those under qualified workers a shot at trying to grab smaller projects on their own. I get calls from them weekly. In time this will flatten out and things should get better here. In general quality developers are going to be in short supply around the world soon and that will make life easier on all of us.
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There's a simple solution of course: break the busiest forums into beginner and advanced.
Modo vincis, modo vinceris.
I don't mind helping people, but I don't give people the full answer... I prefer to give them just enough to get the concept across and let them devise the answer themselves. Sadly, people who ask really lame questions tend to not be satisfied with that method.
------------------------------------------- Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow; Don't walk behind me, I may not lead; Just bugger off and leave me alone!!
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It's called evolution. Give it time. They'll be dead soon (from the career perspective) and then things will get better. Yes, as the global economy emerges we are seeing a lot of this. Outsourcing is the biggest problem and India is the epicenter of it. India has some fantastic talent and the huge emergence of outsourcing there has allowed a lot of lousy developers to find work just to meet the demand. But in conversations I have had with Indians and even Chinese they are starting to get a better grip on those types of developers and they are starting to refine the quality/quantity of work coming out of India/China. We are in a state of flux right now where some very high end outsourcing companies in India are trimming the fat which is allowing those under qualified workers a shot at trying to grab smaller projects on their own. I get calls from them weekly. In time this will flatten out and things should get better here. In general quality developers are going to be in short supply around the world soon and that will make life easier on all of us.
code-frog wrote:
that will make life easier on all of us
You could substitute the words "easier on" with "busier for"... hehe...
------------------------------------------- Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow; Don't walk behind me, I may not lead; Just bugger off and leave me alone!!
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code-frog wrote:
that will make life easier on all of us
You could substitute the words "easier on" with "busier for"... hehe...
------------------------------------------- Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow; Don't walk behind me, I may not lead; Just bugger off and leave me alone!!
_Damian S_ wrote:
You could substitute the words "easier on" with "busier for"
That might be so. I can only imagine people having to go in and clean up sloppy code from not-so-talented developers.
"Any sort of work in VB6 is bound to provide several WTF moments." - Christian Graus
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There's a simple solution of course: break the busiest forums into beginner and advanced.
Modo vincis, modo vinceris.
...and then quietly tell the advanced users to use the beginner forum, since it's certain all the beginners will make a beeline for the advanced... :rolleyes:
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I don't care what you consider witty, but at least I do not blather on posting nonsense like Jim Crafton.
-- Stringcheese, humbled by Crafton's ability to string together multiple sentences
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...and then quietly tell the advanced users to use the beginner forum, since it's certain all the beginners will make a beeline for the advanced... :rolleyes:
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I don't care what you consider witty, but at least I do not blather on posting nonsense like Jim Crafton.
-- Stringcheese, humbled by Crafton's ability to string together multiple sentences
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I no longer begrudge others their inability to match my greatness... :rolleyes:
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I don't care what you consider witty, but at least I do not blather on posting nonsense like Jim Crafton.
-- Stringcheese, humbled by Crafton's ability to string together multiple sentences
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I no longer begrudge others their inability to match my greatness... :rolleyes:
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I don't care what you consider witty, but at least I do not blather on posting nonsense like Jim Crafton.
-- Stringcheese, humbled by Crafton's ability to string together multiple sentences
You are an excellent example of the Dunning Kruger Effect
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You are an excellent example of the Dunning Kruger Effect
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Aw shucks, Kyle - just call me Dutch Oven. :rolleyes:
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I don't care what you consider witty, but at least I do not blather on posting nonsense like Jim Crafton.
-- Stringcheese, humbled by Crafton's ability to string together multiple sentences
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:laugh: Don't worry, it'll come to you...
You must be careful in the forest Broken glass and rusty nails If you're to bring back something for us I have bullets for sale...
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I only visit Code Project from time to time nowadays but a couple of years ago when I did more (C++) programming, I got plenty of useful information from the articles hosted here. However, I only asked a question once or twice in the forums when I was stuck and couldn't get the info from Google or MSDN. I noticed in the VC++ forum (might be the same in other forums) that people are asking *very* basic questions frequently, stuff that one could easily find in books, MSDN or Google. Also, some guys seem to think that they should be able to write advanced code without even having basic knowledge of the language they are using. I'm curious, is this just just lazyness or are these guys under so much pressure that they don't have time to research properly or learn the basics first? Michael
Michael H. Schubert wrote:
I noticed in the VC++ forum (might be the same in other forums) that people are asking *very* basic questions frequently, stuff that one could easily find in books, MSDN or Google. Also, some guys seem to think that they should be able to write advanced code without even having basic knowledge of the language they are using.
All unmoderated forums and discussion groups are like that. If you want a place with high quality discussions on C++, see the comp.lang.c++.moderated news group (a Google interface to the group)[^]
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Yes, it was obvious that you were trying (quite unsuccessfully) to be witty. Even Captain See Sharp is better at that than you.
just call me Dutch Oven - Shog9, baffled by the term "Dunning Kruger"
Yes, i suppose i do need to up the usage of "pimp" in my posts. BTW - love the new sig. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy...
You must be careful in the forest Broken glass and rusty nails If you're to bring back something for us I have bullets for sale...
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Yes, i suppose i do need to up the usage of "pimp" in my posts. BTW - love the new sig. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy...
You must be careful in the forest Broken glass and rusty nails If you're to bring back something for us I have bullets for sale...
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Isn't it ironic that you were scolding jason_lakewhitney for getting sucked into an argument with me the other day?
just call me Dutch Oven - Shog9, baffled by the term "Dunning Kruger"
Naw, that would only be ironic if we were arguing. My graceful acceptance of your gushing admiration is slightly surprising, but... well, we already discussed that.
You must be careful in the forest Broken glass and rusty nails If you're to bring back something for us I have bullets for sale...