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Taking Your Programming Skills to the Next Level?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the your-next-belt-in-code-fu dept.

An anonymous reader asks: "About 6 years ago I graduated with a degree in Computer Science. Since that time I've been working on and off as a programmer, however I feel that my programming skills haven't really progressed to the next level as I had hoped. I guess part of the problem is that my work environment hasn't been especially technical or challenging, so I really need to try and improve my skills independently. What strategies did Slashdot readers use to improve their programming skills Which books are useful in this area?"

5 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. there's usually a quest involved by bunions · · Score: 5, Funny

    Typically, you have to rescue a kings daughter or defeat a marauding ogre that has been terrorizing the townsfolk. That's how I got to be a level 9 Programmer, although the +2 keyboard, +3 against fire elementals, does help. If I take it to the next level, I get an enchanted chair.

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    there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
    1. Re:there's usually a quest involved by 19061969 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Maybe the poster needs rescueing? It sounds like he/she is imprisonsed in a cubicle of doom and guarded by a boss with +5 pointy hair.

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      bang goes my karma... again...
    2. Re:there's usually a quest involved by Xyrus · · Score: 5, Funny

      "That's how I got to be a level 9 Programmer, although the +2 keyboard, +3 against fire elementals does help."

      Amatuer.

      A more efficient way is to find the Wizard of 7-11. You will find many goods for your journey at his shop, such as the Chilidog of Power(+5 artery clogger), the Mentos Charm Disks(+2 charisma), and the Sack of Magical Poofy Cheese (+3 yellow). You must remember to pick up several Flasks of Mountain Dew, as this will give you a +5 haste.

      Soon after consuming the Chilidog of Power and the Sack of Magical Poofy Cheese, you will be endowed with new abilities, most notably the Chair Earthquake (good vs. earth elementals such as the troll-like Cowerkers) and the Cloud of Stench (+10 repulsion). Combined, these will make you a powerful adversary.

      Now drink several flasks of Mountain Dew. Your skills will multiply at an accelerated rate. When your Boss Templar comes around, quickly apply a Mentos Charm Disk for a charisma boost.

      IMPORTANT! DO NOT COMBINE THE MENTOS CHARM DISKS WITH THE FLASK OF MOUNTAIN DEW! This combination will cause much harm to even the strongest of warriors.

      One last word of wisdom. Avoid reading the Scrolls of Slashdot. Only trolls dwell there. No good will come of it.

      Sincerely,
      ~X~ Level 41 Code Warrior

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      ~X~
  2. Re:Good Idea! by Perseid · · Score: 5, Funny

    White programmer needs Dew badly.

  3. Re:Solve problems, but don't worry about full prog by SomeoneGotMyNick · · Score: 4, Funny
    3. Nerds - Nerds write bad code very well. Nerds become obsessed with particular techniques and will use that techniqu whether it is relevant or not. However their attention to detail means that the code is well executed

    Oh God!!!! That's ME!!!!! Why didn't anybody tell me this SOONER!!!! I feel so ASHAMED!!!! I need to re-program my Segway to lead me off of the edge of a bridge. I think I'll use a variant of the Medial Axis Transform of the city model to determine best path.