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  3. Shouldn't programmers know how to fix computers?

Shouldn't programmers know how to fix computers?

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  • Z ZurdoDev

    Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening? If you know how to program why can't you figure out how to fix your own computer, or at least start researching?

    There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

    A Offline
    A Offline
    AspDotNetDev
    wrote on last edited by
    #6

    Shouldn't computer technicians know how to program?...

    Thou mewling ill-breeding pignut!

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    • Z ZurdoDev

      I hereby grant you certification. http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2007/03/the-works-on-my-machine-certification-program.html[^]

      There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

      S Offline
      S Offline
      S Houghtelin
      wrote on last edited by
      #7

      :) Thank you!

      It was broke, so I fixed it.

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      • V Vark111

        Fixed your title What drives me even more bonkers are developers who don't know how to put a shortcut to an app on the desktop. :doh: True story, that.

        X Offline
        X Offline
        Xiangyang Liu
        wrote on last edited by
        #8

        Fixed your title again. :)

        My Younger Son & His "PET"

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        • V Vark111

          Fixed your title What drives me even more bonkers are developers who don't know how to put a shortcut to an app on the desktop. :doh: True story, that.

          D Offline
          D Offline
          Dr Walt Fair PE
          wrote on last edited by
          #9

          But, but, but ... I did put it on the desktop. See, right there it is, written on that sticky note, right there on the desktop, just next to the keyboard. Darn technicians just ought to learn to read.

          CQ de W5ALT

          Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software

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          • Z ZurdoDev

            Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening? If you know how to program why can't you figure out how to fix your own computer, or at least start researching?

            There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

            L Offline
            L Offline
            lewax00
            wrote on last edited by
            #10

            Especially when blue screens give very useful error codes. And when it BSOD's you can assume hardware or driver issue (and Windows is getting better at handling driver failure, so that doesn't always BSOD anymore, especially in graphics drivers), so that narrows it down a lot. Although personally I find it much easier to deal with when you custom build a computer (although, no computer I've built has ever had BSOD errors that weren't fixed with a driver update/reinstall) because you know exactly what piece of hardware you have, unlike pre-builts which may or may not have easily found part lists.

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            • Z ZurdoDev

              Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening? If you know how to program why can't you figure out how to fix your own computer, or at least start researching?

              There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

              N Offline
              N Offline
              Not Active
              wrote on last edited by
              #11

              So a VB6 developer (the term is loosely applied here) should know how, and have the tools available, to debug Windows drivers written in C++ ?


              Failure is not an option; it's the default selection.

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              • A AspDotNetDev

                Shouldn't computer technicians know how to program?...

                Thou mewling ill-breeding pignut!

                L Offline
                L Offline
                loctrice
                wrote on last edited by
                #12

                :thumbsup:

                If it moves, compile it

                1 Reply Last reply
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                • Z ZurdoDev

                  Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening? If you know how to program why can't you figure out how to fix your own computer, or at least start researching?

                  There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  loctrice
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #13

                  I can relate though. I blue screened like 3 computers in a row when I first started my job. I rely heavily on the guy in the next office if I have computer problems. I'm a linux user. I know little to nothing about windoze admin type things. To me , everything is backwards or muddy. I use windows because that's what they use here ( I am getting much better with it, but it has taken some time), but to me it's more like a big IDE than anything else. I use VS, Netbeans, Gedit, etc. not the OS itself. If something goes wrong I'm about the last guy in the office who can fix it. I could re-install every time something went crazy, but that would take a lot of time.

                  If it moves, compile it

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                  • V Vark111

                    Fixed your title What drives me even more bonkers are developers who don't know how to put a shortcut to an app on the desktop. :doh: True story, that.

                    Z Offline
                    Z Offline
                    ZurdoDev
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #14

                    "This is the police. Please step away from the code."

                    There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

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                    • S S Houghtelin

                      I don't know, works on my machine.

                      It was broke, so I fixed it.

                      Mike HankeyM Offline
                      Mike HankeyM Offline
                      Mike Hankey
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #15

                      One of the good things about being poor is that I have to do something really, really stupid to make the tabloids. But I can fix my own computer!

                      VS2010/Atmel Studio 6.0 ToDo Manager Extension

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                      • Z ZurdoDev

                        Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening? If you know how to program why can't you figure out how to fix your own computer, or at least start researching?

                        There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

                        W Offline
                        W Offline
                        wizardzz
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #16

                        IT needs something to keep busy. Honestly, it can be a situation where a developer's time is worth more than IT guy's, developer can go on working on shit (adding value to company/product) while IT guy does his thing. But yeah, I agree they should be able to fix most things on their own.

                        "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson

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                        • N Not Active

                          So a VB6 developer (the term is loosely applied here) should know how, and have the tools available, to debug Windows drivers written in C++ ?


                          Failure is not an option; it's the default selection.

                          L Offline
                          L Offline
                          lewax00
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #17

                          No. Blue screens provide error codes, you can look those up to determine the source, and then take appropriate steps to fix it (update/reinstall/rollback the driver, try to replace the hardware that causes the issue, etc.).

                          N 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • Z ZurdoDev

                            Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening? If you know how to program why can't you figure out how to fix your own computer, or at least start researching?

                            There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

                            R Offline
                            R Offline
                            R Giskard Reventlov
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #18

                            Because many people can be very good at one thing and useless at another/everything else or simply don't care enough to bother learning. And knowing how to program may not be enough to give you the skills you'd need to diagnose and fix hardware. I mean, if you're that smart, (and here I might be hanging myself :)) have you worked out how to service your own car or replace the pistons? Can you plumb in a washing machine or build a fitted kitchen? No? Well, you're smart, couldn't you just research it? p.s. If my work pc blue screened I'd call the help desk and get them to deal with it (they'd be pretty miffed if they found me with bits of my pc all over the desk).

                            "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me

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                            • Z ZurdoDev

                              Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening? If you know how to program why can't you figure out how to fix your own computer, or at least start researching?

                              There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

                              0 Offline
                              0 Offline
                              0bx
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #19

                              Well, excuse me but network engineers and hardware technicians, whose entire job description is to fix computers, usually only know two things: 1) how to format the harddrive -> install windows 2) how to randomly replace parts until it works

                              Giraffes are not real.

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                              • R R Giskard Reventlov

                                Because many people can be very good at one thing and useless at another/everything else or simply don't care enough to bother learning. And knowing how to program may not be enough to give you the skills you'd need to diagnose and fix hardware. I mean, if you're that smart, (and here I might be hanging myself :)) have you worked out how to service your own car or replace the pistons? Can you plumb in a washing machine or build a fitted kitchen? No? Well, you're smart, couldn't you just research it? p.s. If my work pc blue screened I'd call the help desk and get them to deal with it (they'd be pretty miffed if they found me with bits of my pc all over the desk).

                                "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me

                                L Offline
                                L Offline
                                lewax00
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #20

                                mark merrens wrote:

                                I mean, if you're that smart, (and here I might be hanging myself :) ) have you worked out how to service your own car or replace the pistons? Can you plumb in a washing machine or build a fitted kitchen? No? Well, you're smart, couldn't you just research it?

                                But those cases are a significantly different, the computer is your tool and you should know how to maintain your own tools.

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                                • R R Giskard Reventlov

                                  Because many people can be very good at one thing and useless at another/everything else or simply don't care enough to bother learning. And knowing how to program may not be enough to give you the skills you'd need to diagnose and fix hardware. I mean, if you're that smart, (and here I might be hanging myself :)) have you worked out how to service your own car or replace the pistons? Can you plumb in a washing machine or build a fitted kitchen? No? Well, you're smart, couldn't you just research it? p.s. If my work pc blue screened I'd call the help desk and get them to deal with it (they'd be pretty miffed if they found me with bits of my pc all over the desk).

                                  "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me

                                  A Offline
                                  A Offline
                                  AspDotNetDev
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #21

                                  mark merrens wrote:

                                  have you worked out how to service your own car or replace the pistons?

                                  I still have never changed my car's oil. I barely know how to put gas in it. :)

                                  Thou mewling ill-breeding pignut!

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                                  • L lewax00

                                    No. Blue screens provide error codes, you can look those up to determine the source, and then take appropriate steps to fix it (update/reinstall/rollback the driver, try to replace the hardware that causes the issue, etc.).

                                    N Offline
                                    N Offline
                                    Not Active
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #22

                                    So you expect anyone who programs computers to also be a hardware technician? Most automobiles have many computerized systems in them. Do you expect the mechanic to be a computer technician? Do you expect them to be a materials engineer to determine why the brake pads have worn out?


                                    Failure is not an option; it's the default selection.

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                                    • Z ZurdoDev

                                      Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening? If you know how to program why can't you figure out how to fix your own computer, or at least start researching?

                                      There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

                                      D Offline
                                      D Offline
                                      Dave Kreskowiak
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #23

                                      Are you kidding?? Right now, I wish "programmers" would figure out how to write code! But, since they have no experience with their own PC, the basics of how Windows works, how the basics of a computer works, basic security, how the Internet works, TCP/IP or HTTP and a web browser, fixing their own PC is now WAY above their heads. I wouldn't trust half these !#)@@#&)-wits to write "Hello World" in Notepad, let alone do it in the code of their own choice!

                                      A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]
                                      Dave Kreskowiak

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                                      • Z ZurdoDev

                                        Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening? If you know how to program why can't you figure out how to fix your own computer, or at least start researching?

                                        There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

                                        J Offline
                                        J Offline
                                        jschell
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #24

                                        ryanb31 wrote:

                                        Does it drive anyone else bonkers when developers keep complaining about their windows PC blue screening?

                                        They do that a lot? Recently? I know it surprised me quite a bit when I managed to do that on Windows 7. It had been so long since I saw the blue screen that I figured it was gone for good. Certainly I almost never saw it on Windows XP. And so far it only happened once on Win 7. Other than that it has been a long time since I felt I was compentent to 'fix' most aspects of a computer itself. Although perhaps you were only referring to fixing applications (code) that the developer created themselves.

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                                        • L lewax00

                                          mark merrens wrote:

                                          I mean, if you're that smart, (and here I might be hanging myself :) ) have you worked out how to service your own car or replace the pistons? Can you plumb in a washing machine or build a fitted kitchen? No? Well, you're smart, couldn't you just research it?

                                          But those cases are a significantly different, the computer is your tool and you should know how to maintain your own tools.

                                          L Offline
                                          L Offline
                                          loctrice
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #25

                                          In construction, when our tools broke we either bought new ones or had the old one's repaired. I couldn't imagine having people taking apart air compressors, nail guns, power sanders, etc and trying to repair them on the job. Semi drivers do not work on their own trucks. Minor things like break adjustment and adding oil sure, but that's not really different than running scandisk on the pc.

                                          If it moves, compile it

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