Does the Internet make software developers lazy?
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What I mean is, does access to the Internet make you lazy when you're coding. Let me qualify this: when working on a routine that you're not sure how to code correctly, do you Google for example code instead of reading the necessary/relevant documentation? For example, I am currently working on a short article to post on Codeproject concerning the backing up and restoration of Windows 7 activation files. Because these files have limited user access, the program needs to change access permissions to backup and restore. So, rather than reading all of the necessary MSDN documentation, I Google for code samples. Not the correct way I know, but hey, it gets the job done. Or does it? Maybe in the short term, but in the long term I've learnt nothing. So the next time I need to code any access permission changes, I'm still no nearer to knowing the correct way. I suppose what I'm wondering is, has the Internet made me lazy?
As I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I fear no evil, for I am the God of Death.... and this is my valley. Aici zace un om despre care nu sestie prea mult
Google (or StackOverflow) hasn't made me lazy - nor, in my opinion, anyone who takes at least some time to understand code samples they are using. If you do not understand what you are implementing from a code sample, then you need to read up on some documentation. To me, documentation comes second; that said, I want both! The documentation provides me with insight on certain aspects or characteristics of a class I may be investigating or researching. There is always some crucial bit that MSDN leaves out. No doubt, I will find what I need in the code sample. If there is nothing about a code sample that I don't understand or fully comprehend just by reading the sample, then my time spent reading documentation would be better spent implementing the code sample.
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What I mean is, does access to the Internet make you lazy when you're coding. Let me qualify this: when working on a routine that you're not sure how to code correctly, do you Google for example code instead of reading the necessary/relevant documentation? For example, I am currently working on a short article to post on Codeproject concerning the backing up and restoration of Windows 7 activation files. Because these files have limited user access, the program needs to change access permissions to backup and restore. So, rather than reading all of the necessary MSDN documentation, I Google for code samples. Not the correct way I know, but hey, it gets the job done. Or does it? Maybe in the short term, but in the long term I've learnt nothing. So the next time I need to code any access permission changes, I'm still no nearer to knowing the correct way. I suppose what I'm wondering is, has the Internet made me lazy?
As I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I fear no evil, for I am the God of Death.... and this is my valley. Aici zace un om despre care nu sestie prea mult
As I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Software, I fear no evil, for there be Google.
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As I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Software, I fear no evil, for there be Google.
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What I mean is, does access to the Internet make you lazy when you're coding. Let me qualify this: when working on a routine that you're not sure how to code correctly, do you Google for example code instead of reading the necessary/relevant documentation? For example, I am currently working on a short article to post on Codeproject concerning the backing up and restoration of Windows 7 activation files. Because these files have limited user access, the program needs to change access permissions to backup and restore. So, rather than reading all of the necessary MSDN documentation, I Google for code samples. Not the correct way I know, but hey, it gets the job done. Or does it? Maybe in the short term, but in the long term I've learnt nothing. So the next time I need to code any access permission changes, I'm still no nearer to knowing the correct way. I suppose what I'm wondering is, has the Internet made me lazy?
As I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I fear no evil, for I am the God of Death.... and this is my valley. Aici zace un om despre care nu sestie prea mult
Personally, I'll take a stab at solving it myself using documentation, but as time is money (generally), google is step 2 after a while. The truly lazy will just copy something that works without attempting to understand why. Since I was a kid, I've always liked to know how/why something works the way it does, whether it's my motorcycle engine or some piece of code...so I guess I'm saying a lazy non-inquisitive attitude can make for a lazy developer.
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Benjamin Breeg wrote:
does access to the Internet make you lazy when you're coding
No, it's a distraction so I try to get away from such access when doing serious (i.e. personal rather than work) development.
Benjamin Breeg wrote:
do you Google for example code
No, never, what's that?
For me thats okay. If you Google your code make sure you understand it and besides there are a lot of programming sites to help you and other programmers. The bottom line "Don't be abusive" ,if your are too dependent to Google you know to your self that your are not a real CODER.
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What I mean is, does access to the Internet make you lazy when you're coding. Let me qualify this: when working on a routine that you're not sure how to code correctly, do you Google for example code instead of reading the necessary/relevant documentation? For example, I am currently working on a short article to post on Codeproject concerning the backing up and restoration of Windows 7 activation files. Because these files have limited user access, the program needs to change access permissions to backup and restore. So, rather than reading all of the necessary MSDN documentation, I Google for code samples. Not the correct way I know, but hey, it gets the job done. Or does it? Maybe in the short term, but in the long term I've learnt nothing. So the next time I need to code any access permission changes, I'm still no nearer to knowing the correct way. I suppose what I'm wondering is, has the Internet made me lazy?
As I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I fear no evil, for I am the God of Death.... and this is my valley. Aici zace un om despre care nu sestie prea mult
As MSDN is now fundamentally broken, Google is the default "help" for Microsoft products.
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What I mean is, does access to the Internet make you lazy when you're coding. Let me qualify this: when working on a routine that you're not sure how to code correctly, do you Google for example code instead of reading the necessary/relevant documentation? For example, I am currently working on a short article to post on Codeproject concerning the backing up and restoration of Windows 7 activation files. Because these files have limited user access, the program needs to change access permissions to backup and restore. So, rather than reading all of the necessary MSDN documentation, I Google for code samples. Not the correct way I know, but hey, it gets the job done. Or does it? Maybe in the short term, but in the long term I've learnt nothing. So the next time I need to code any access permission changes, I'm still no nearer to knowing the correct way. I suppose what I'm wondering is, has the Internet made me lazy?
As I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I fear no evil, for I am the God of Death.... and this is my valley. Aici zace un om despre care nu sestie prea mult
I'm a mathematician, I've learned to be lazy long before the internet came along. Hey, who do you think invented all those weird symbols that you see in mathematical formulae? ;)
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Unfortuntately, much of the net is useless for reference links. 6 months later you're trying to understand your code, follow a link and its no longer there.
I still think this should be done. 1) You might find another link affilliated with the original. 2) Google cache sometimes maintains copies of the pages associated with the links.
m.bergman
-- For Bruce Schneier, quanta only have one state : afraid.
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What I mean is, does access to the Internet make you lazy when you're coding. Let me qualify this: when working on a routine that you're not sure how to code correctly, do you Google for example code instead of reading the necessary/relevant documentation? For example, I am currently working on a short article to post on Codeproject concerning the backing up and restoration of Windows 7 activation files. Because these files have limited user access, the program needs to change access permissions to backup and restore. So, rather than reading all of the necessary MSDN documentation, I Google for code samples. Not the correct way I know, but hey, it gets the job done. Or does it? Maybe in the short term, but in the long term I've learnt nothing. So the next time I need to code any access permission changes, I'm still no nearer to knowing the correct way. I suppose what I'm wondering is, has the Internet made me lazy?
As I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I fear no evil, for I am the God of Death.... and this is my valley. Aici zace un om despre care nu sestie prea mult
I think it all depends on the person, as to how it is used. If Google is your only source of information when programming, then yes it can make you lazy and in the long term possibly not a very good programmer. If I am looking at a new area of programming say wcf I will normally buy a few books, read these. Use the MSDN documentation for the nity- grity and to enforce my new knowledge use google for real world examples. I've found google to be a life saver many a time to give me that missing piece of the puzzle when learning something new. Google is just another tool, if used in the right context it's invaluable . Otherwise it can make you lazy.
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What I mean is, does access to the Internet make you lazy when you're coding. Let me qualify this: when working on a routine that you're not sure how to code correctly, do you Google for example code instead of reading the necessary/relevant documentation? For example, I am currently working on a short article to post on Codeproject concerning the backing up and restoration of Windows 7 activation files. Because these files have limited user access, the program needs to change access permissions to backup and restore. So, rather than reading all of the necessary MSDN documentation, I Google for code samples. Not the correct way I know, but hey, it gets the job done. Or does it? Maybe in the short term, but in the long term I've learnt nothing. So the next time I need to code any access permission changes, I'm still no nearer to knowing the correct way. I suppose what I'm wondering is, has the Internet made me lazy?
As I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I fear no evil, for I am the God of Death.... and this is my valley. Aici zace un om despre care nu sestie prea mult