The learning rush
-
Let me feed you a new obsessive imperative: The parser parser. Maybe the wrong name for it but my posts on CP ofttimes reflect the need. The spell checker within most browsers is a parser (no?). The problem is that it will mess with words and change them to other words (or put first char on a new line to UC when it's not appropriate and without even asking). I sometimes look at my posts a little later and sigh about the corrected spelling of the (now) wrong word. So we need a parser to parse the parsed. Or, maybe it's time - your Opus Magnum - akin to "one ring to rule them all" and you make "THE ÜBER-PARSER".
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
A parser wouldn't be what you'd use to implement a spell checker unless you were doing weird context sensitive spelling matches. If spellcheckers did that, they'd actually correct using the right words. However, context sensitive parsing is slow and painful and involves things like grammar rewriting on the fly so you can't create optimized tables from it. It's all terribly resource intensive, not really "real-time" (to use the term loosely). There might be better ways to do it using machine learning though. It's a bit outside my wheelhouse but I think the idea of using it here is sound. You'd also need a way to report bad corrections and for people to actually do it, I think. Again, it's not my area of expertise.
Real programmers use butterflies
-
A parser wouldn't be what you'd use to implement a spell checker unless you were doing weird context sensitive spelling matches. If spellcheckers did that, they'd actually correct using the right words. However, context sensitive parsing is slow and painful and involves things like grammar rewriting on the fly so you can't create optimized tables from it. It's all terribly resource intensive, not really "real-time" (to use the term loosely). There might be better ways to do it using machine learning though. It's a bit outside my wheelhouse but I think the idea of using it here is sound. You'd also need a way to report bad corrections and for people to actually do it, I think. Again, it's not my area of expertise.
Real programmers use butterflies
Rolling back a bit further into our branch of the thread. Gone "Mad", have you? I've been "different" for a long time - peering out at the world from behind my eyes. There is one realization you may wish to consider. "Normal" is defined by those with the power to do so - basically, the people who "run the world". The world's in pretty bad shape - so, not being considered normal is a clear indication I'm not amongst those who've messed things up. Overall, the above has a single message - if you haven't already, EMBRACE THE MADNESS. Take comfort in it as a loyal companion.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
-
Rolling back a bit further into our branch of the thread. Gone "Mad", have you? I've been "different" for a long time - peering out at the world from behind my eyes. There is one realization you may wish to consider. "Normal" is defined by those with the power to do so - basically, the people who "run the world". The world's in pretty bad shape - so, not being considered normal is a clear indication I'm not amongst those who've messed things up. Overall, the above has a single message - if you haven't already, EMBRACE THE MADNESS. Take comfort in it as a loyal companion.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
W∴ Balboos, GHB wrote:
"Normal" is defined by those with the power to do so
Channeling Foucault are we? After my own heart, you are. I've been okay with being different for a long time. And yes, I'm quite mad. Got the certificate and everything. I've always been comfortable with being weird. Being crazy is a different story - some days are better than others, but that's life. On the other hand, because of it I've seen some things nobody else will. I take the good where I can find it. :)
Real programmers use butterflies
-
W∴ Balboos, GHB wrote:
"Normal" is defined by those with the power to do so
Channeling Foucault are we? After my own heart, you are. I've been okay with being different for a long time. And yes, I'm quite mad. Got the certificate and everything. I've always been comfortable with being weird. Being crazy is a different story - some days are better than others, but that's life. On the other hand, because of it I've seen some things nobody else will. I take the good where I can find it. :)
Real programmers use butterflies
I had to google Foucault. My own self-image has been more akin to some unholy admixture of Kurt Vonnegut and Voltaire. = posted in "The Best of All Possible Lounges" . . . or not. And so it goes.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
-
I had to google Foucault. My own self-image has been more akin to some unholy admixture of Kurt Vonnegut and Voltaire. = posted in "The Best of All Possible Lounges" . . . or not. And so it goes.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
Good company. At risk of dipping my toes in the political, Voltaire has been particularly apropos these days. ;P
Real programmers use butterflies
-
Good company. At risk of dipping my toes in the political, Voltaire has been particularly apropos these days. ;P
Real programmers use butterflies
I think Machiavelli is more predictive - it worked nearly half a millennium ago when he wrote "The Prince" - and it obviously still works today. Perhaps it's comforting to know that (1) the good old days weren't so good (2) tech notwithstanding, people haven't gotten any smarter
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
-
I think Machiavelli is more predictive - it worked nearly half a millennium ago when he wrote "The Prince" - and it obviously still works today. Perhaps it's comforting to know that (1) the good old days weren't so good (2) tech notwithstanding, people haven't gotten any smarter
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
yeah, i can get behind that. :)
Real programmers use butterflies
-
Wait till you're asked to build another one. It's never again like the first time; money or not. Once you figure it out, the little birdie inside says this should now be delegated and to find something new / different.
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it. ― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
Ahhh, yes ... a scalded cat is even afraid of cold water!
-
I'm sure most of you get it or you wouldn't be developers. We're always accruing new knowledge not just to keep up but to get ahead. I don't know about you but I'm a sponge. I sustain myself on learning things. It's such a rush to challenge myself to do something new or something better. I went from not being able to wire up a 16-pin hitachi interface LCD to building IoT gadgets with them, all the way to doing it for money in under a month, drawing from a hobby I abandoned for programming back when I was a kid. Now I'm doing both. It's seriously challenging me. I haven't used my brain this much in years. It's one thing to learn more in a field you're already familiar with, like when I learned parsing theory. It's another to learn a different, even if related field. That's what I'm doing now. It's all very fun, but now I worry I'm going to get lost in it to the expense of everything else. Can it be an addiction? I wonder.
Real programmers use butterflies
I don't think it goes away (if you've got the time!). Back in my middle 50's I started working on devices that did all kinds of audio processing (audio control units for 911 call taker stations). All kinds of tone generation/detection, digital filters, AGC, etc. It was exciting times for me learning a new area of embedded systems. It would have easier though if I could have remembered more of the math I'd learned back in college (in the 70's).
-
I'm sure most of you get it or you wouldn't be developers. We're always accruing new knowledge not just to keep up but to get ahead. I don't know about you but I'm a sponge. I sustain myself on learning things. It's such a rush to challenge myself to do something new or something better. I went from not being able to wire up a 16-pin hitachi interface LCD to building IoT gadgets with them, all the way to doing it for money in under a month, drawing from a hobby I abandoned for programming back when I was a kid. Now I'm doing both. It's seriously challenging me. I haven't used my brain this much in years. It's one thing to learn more in a field you're already familiar with, like when I learned parsing theory. It's another to learn a different, even if related field. That's what I'm doing now. It's all very fun, but now I worry I'm going to get lost in it to the expense of everything else. Can it be an addiction? I wonder.
Real programmers use butterflies
In the past, I have had some deadend jobs without much learning. During those times, I took on new learning experiences building a water-cooled computer one time and a 504 hp engine that got me 30 mpg another. When I cannot learn on the job, I am so driven to learn that a new project will always pop up. Now I am getting older and slower, and money is tight. Projects for learning are often slow and meticulous things that don't drain brain or wallet.
-
honey the codewitch wrote:
I'm sure most of you get it or you wouldn't be developers.
I've definitely worked with code from developers who did not enjoy learning. In fact, I've met the anti-learn. When I left for another company because I wanted to progress he literally said "that's one of those companies that expect you to learn." :wtf: His code was as awful as his toxic personality. If I never see him again it'll be too soon, but unfortunately I still see him from time to time :sigh: I like some good learning from time to time, but at some time I just have to be able to do my job with the knowledge I have and get it over with. When I learn new things it's usually because I think it can help me solve some programming challenge I'm facing. I rarely learn just for the sake of learning. Since I'm a good friend I want you to learn, so I've compiled one of the best learning resource for you to check out: hidden learning surprise inside!!![^] :D
Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript
This thread really is really resonating with my experiences, both good and bad ones. I'll try to sum up my experience so briefly: First the bad: The toxic 'anti-learn' folks are around, with so many variances. I try to persuade them to find joy in their work, but to them it's "...just my job, I'll get what I have to do done and then go home and not think about it". Never learn anything new unless they're explicitely directed to use it. Or "...I just have to do this for ten more years and then I can retire...". They'd be wiser to change their careers now when they're still young enough to live life. I'd rather be dead already if I was in their miserable state. And the best! The learners, the knowledge-sharers! These are the people in techie careers of all types (and then again, not necessarily techies) They are a joy to know and work with! Something new comes their way and they willingly share it, or they seek out their coworkers/neighbors/friends. They share in the fun you have of learning too. Keep in touch with these folks. You can always get joy from learning, even if it doesn't pay dividends!(e.g. even learn to juggle!) A teacher in high school told me to never stop learning, never stop reading things, keep connections that matter. It was the best advice I ever got.
-
I'm sure most of you get it or you wouldn't be developers. We're always accruing new knowledge not just to keep up but to get ahead. I don't know about you but I'm a sponge. I sustain myself on learning things. It's such a rush to challenge myself to do something new or something better. I went from not being able to wire up a 16-pin hitachi interface LCD to building IoT gadgets with them, all the way to doing it for money in under a month, drawing from a hobby I abandoned for programming back when I was a kid. Now I'm doing both. It's seriously challenging me. I haven't used my brain this much in years. It's one thing to learn more in a field you're already familiar with, like when I learned parsing theory. It's another to learn a different, even if related field. That's what I'm doing now. It's all very fun, but now I worry I'm going to get lost in it to the expense of everything else. Can it be an addiction? I wonder.
Real programmers use butterflies
early on in my career I learned everything I could get my hands on, now much further down the road I'm a little more careful on what I want to learn and balance it with home life.
-
This thread really is really resonating with my experiences, both good and bad ones. I'll try to sum up my experience so briefly: First the bad: The toxic 'anti-learn' folks are around, with so many variances. I try to persuade them to find joy in their work, but to them it's "...just my job, I'll get what I have to do done and then go home and not think about it". Never learn anything new unless they're explicitely directed to use it. Or "...I just have to do this for ten more years and then I can retire...". They'd be wiser to change their careers now when they're still young enough to live life. I'd rather be dead already if I was in their miserable state. And the best! The learners, the knowledge-sharers! These are the people in techie careers of all types (and then again, not necessarily techies) They are a joy to know and work with! Something new comes their way and they willingly share it, or they seek out their coworkers/neighbors/friends. They share in the fun you have of learning too. Keep in touch with these folks. You can always get joy from learning, even if it doesn't pay dividends!(e.g. even learn to juggle!) A teacher in high school told me to never stop learning, never stop reading things, keep connections that matter. It was the best advice I ever got.
Pete Kelley wrote:
The learners, the knowledge-sharers!
I've been this in an organization full of
Pete Kelley wrote:
The toxic 'anti-learn' folks
X| I regularly posted about new stuff on the internal Yammer channel, but I barely got responses. Then I posted something about Cobol and how it wasn't dead and I got more likes than I've ever had before :laugh:
Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript
