Programming ability over age [modified]
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I don't have a kindle, I use the kindle app on my iPad.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
You and Rama plotted against me.:suss:
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Deyan Georgiev wrote:
You don’t like your eyes much, do you
The iPad does not hurt the eyes. In fact my monitor hurts my eyes more than the iPad. The only place where Kindle may be better is in direct sunlight. iPad is unreadable in direct sunlight or places where glare is expected.
Deyan Georgiev wrote:
Why just don’t buy a Kindle?
Because I already have an iPad.
No, it is using a real ink; the reflecting on direct sunlight is only one of the pros. The most important is that it feels like a real book printed on very luxury paper with high quality printing. And the Kindle is created to be a book, not a combination of computer, reader, TV set, portable shower, not very soft toilet paper, sandwich tray, etc. etc.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Vodka? I thought you would know better than that[^] :)
Šumadijo, Šumadijo... You know the song :)
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Last night, I watched Prince of Persia, then Tarzan. By the time I was done watching Tarzan, I had forgotten what movie I saw before it. And I'm only 25.
That's not your fault, given the movies you watched! :)
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow
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Vodka? I thought you would know better than that[^] :)
It’s not easy to find good Rakia in NJ Nemanja.:) How was the word in your language, “Lozovina”? :)
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Years back someone posted an article here (I can't find it now) which claimed that middle-aged programmers (40-68) are not expected to be as good as their non middle aged counter parts. Any link to original article will be appreciated? I did Google fir it but could not find that exact article. These days, I am reading this book: The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind[^]. This was one of the popular books on Brain - a topic of my interest. The books cites several research studies citing that some faculties of brain actually improve in the middle age. One such thing is problem solving - which is what programming all about. Things such as ability to recognize and make sense complex patterns also improves - which again a common thing in programming. Another faculty that is expected to grow is the ability to comprehend the whole (system architecture). So what it should imply is that programming as a skill should improve with age. . Is that what happens in the real world? In my case at least, though I have yet to hit middle age, I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
modified on Thursday, June 10, 2010 3:02 PM
I'm only 35, so my opinion may be tainted but... From what have seen from my older peers, there's a few things that are holding them back. 1. They still think old computer thoughts. It's like they think how would I accomplish this in Cobol, then think if I did that in Cobol how would I convert it to .Net. This can produce some interesting results... 2. They tend to be a little less interested (maybe even less able) in learning the new technologies. Of course I've met and worked with people who are exception to that. I also think there is a bias to assume those things about older people, and then when you see evidence, it reinforces that believe, while that same evidence would be disregarded if they buy was in his 20's.
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No, it is using a real ink; the reflecting on direct sunlight is only one of the pros. The most important is that it feels like a real book printed on very luxury paper with high quality printing. And the Kindle is created to be a book, not a combination of computer, reader, TV set, portable shower, not very soft toilet paper, sandwich tray, etc. etc.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
Yes a kindle is a better reading device (depending on where you want to read) than an iPad and an iPad is a better overall content consuming device. That's the trade off. I chose an iPad.
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No, it is using a real ink; the reflecting on direct sunlight is only one of the pros. The most important is that it feels like a real book printed on very luxury paper with high quality printing. And the Kindle is created to be a book, not a combination of computer, reader, TV set, portable shower, not very soft toilet paper, sandwich tray, etc. etc.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
Yes, that is true. And if you like to buy tons of stuff, and/or have a strong back to carry it all when you travel, a kindle AND an iPad may be a great choice. Can you browse the web on a plane with your Kindle ? Can you play games ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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You and Rama plotted against me.:suss:
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
*grin* sorry about that, it was purely accidental, but I got a giggle when I realised what had happened.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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You and Rama plotted against me.:suss:
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
perhaps you should have read Christian's signature... :)
If I have accidentally said something witty, smart, or correct, it is purely by mistake and I apologize for it.
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*grin* sorry about that, it was purely accidental, but I got a giggle when I realised what had happened.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
If it was intended it wouldn’t be funny. :)
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Chris Meech wrote:
The real problem is that when I get to work in the morning, I can't remember what the heck I was working on yesterday.
Yes, the book talks about that too. The ability to remember things fades (which is obvious).
oh please, it isn't that bad. I'm considered middle aged, sorta and I am fine. what were we talking about...?
If I have accidentally said something witty, smart, or correct, it is purely by mistake and I apologize for it.
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Yes, that is true. And if you like to buy tons of stuff, and/or have a strong back to carry it all when you travel, a kindle AND an iPad may be a great choice. Can you browse the web on a plane with your Kindle ? Can you play games ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
Christian Graus wrote:
Can you browse the web on a plane with your Kindle ?
I’m so scared when I’m on a plane, that the only thing I can “browse” is a suicidal quantity of booze.
Christian Graus wrote:
Can you play games ?
Yes, table tennis.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Yes a kindle is a better reading device (depending on where you want to read) than an iPad and an iPad is a better overall content consuming device. That's the trade off. I chose an iPad.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
Yes a kindle is a better reading device (depending on where you want to read) than an iPad and an iPad is a better overall content consuming device.
Totally agree.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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perhaps you should have read Christian's signature... :)
If I have accidentally said something witty, smart, or correct, it is purely by mistake and I apologize for it.
ragnaroknrol wrote:
perhaps you should have read Christian's signature...
We are not close enough for this.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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I'm only 35, so my opinion may be tainted but... From what have seen from my older peers, there's a few things that are holding them back. 1. They still think old computer thoughts. It's like they think how would I accomplish this in Cobol, then think if I did that in Cobol how would I convert it to .Net. This can produce some interesting results... 2. They tend to be a little less interested (maybe even less able) in learning the new technologies. Of course I've met and worked with people who are exception to that. I also think there is a bias to assume those things about older people, and then when you see evidence, it reinforces that believe, while that same evidence would be disregarded if they buy was in his 20's.
Jeremy Hutchinson wrote:
2. They tend to be a little less interested (maybe even less able) in learning the new technologies.
I just turned 40 not too long ago, and I can understand that. But it's not because I can't learn it, it's just that the so called "new technologies" are so incredibly dull. Plus there's little call for it where I work (there's no push for WPF or Silverlight for example). For example, I have absolutely zero interest in web "programming" in it's current state, which makes motivating myself to learn stuff like ASP.Net or Silverlight difficult.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow
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I'm only 35, so my opinion may be tainted but... From what have seen from my older peers, there's a few things that are holding them back. 1. They still think old computer thoughts. It's like they think how would I accomplish this in Cobol, then think if I did that in Cobol how would I convert it to .Net. This can produce some interesting results... 2. They tend to be a little less interested (maybe even less able) in learning the new technologies. Of course I've met and worked with people who are exception to that. I also think there is a bias to assume those things about older people, and then when you see evidence, it reinforces that believe, while that same evidence would be disregarded if they buy was in his 20's.
Yes that is true and to some extent you see that here at CP too. To me it has more to do with personality. Was that programmer an active learner in his young days? Also interesting thing is how fast hecan learn? People establish leaning pattern and use that pattern to learn new things. A middle age guy may have actually developed a good pattern and pick up new technology really fast as I have seen in some cases. But I have seen the opposite too.
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Fades. Geez, I wish. In my case it up and disappears. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
What disappears?
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Years back someone posted an article here (I can't find it now) which claimed that middle-aged programmers (40-68) are not expected to be as good as their non middle aged counter parts. Any link to original article will be appreciated? I did Google fir it but could not find that exact article. These days, I am reading this book: The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind[^]. This was one of the popular books on Brain - a topic of my interest. The books cites several research studies citing that some faculties of brain actually improve in the middle age. One such thing is problem solving - which is what programming all about. Things such as ability to recognize and make sense complex patterns also improves - which again a common thing in programming. Another faculty that is expected to grow is the ability to comprehend the whole (system architecture). So what it should imply is that programming as a skill should improve with age. . Is that what happens in the real world? In my case at least, though I have yet to hit middle age, I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
modified on Thursday, June 10, 2010 3:02 PM
Spotting complex patterns and problem solving have always been easy for me. That cost me quite a few friends as a child because they considered me a smart ass for being able to see what was obvious to me, and totally hidden to them. If anything, those skills have just grown over the years. What's diminished, though, is my ability to rapidly master all the new technologies, buzzwords, and especially libraries that are constantly changing. It might be a lot easier if we still had manuals with programming products, but now that nothing is properly documented it takes me forever to pick up the details. I expect that it would be easier if I did it every day, rather than a few hours a month, but it seems that it was much easier years ago to keep up with stuff. :sigh:
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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Spotting complex patterns and problem solving have always been easy for me. That cost me quite a few friends as a child because they considered me a smart ass for being able to see what was obvious to me, and totally hidden to them. If anything, those skills have just grown over the years. What's diminished, though, is my ability to rapidly master all the new technologies, buzzwords, and especially libraries that are constantly changing. It might be a lot easier if we still had manuals with programming products, but now that nothing is properly documented it takes me forever to pick up the details. I expect that it would be easier if I did it every day, rather than a few hours a month, but it seems that it was much easier years ago to keep up with stuff. :sigh:
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Roger Wright wrote:
That cost me quite a few friends as a child because they considered me a smart ass for being able to see what was obvious to me, and totally hidden to them.
Exactly! In my case, it didn't help that I was usually an a$$hole about it. :doh: I like to think that I'm much nicer now.
My other signature is witty and insightful.