Visual Studio Gets Achievements, Badges, Leaderboards

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Visual Studio Gets Achievements, Badges, Leaderboards

Posted by Soulskill on Thursday January 19, 2012 @02:30AM from the looking-at-the-headline-like-a-curious-puppy dept.

bonch writes "Microsoft has introduced a gamification plugin for Visual Studio that lets users win achievements and badges as they compete on leaderboards by writing code. The full list of achievements includes gems like 'Go To Hell' for using goto, and 'Potty Mouth' for using five different curses in one file. This is another example of Gamification, one of the latest trends to hit social media."

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This just confirms it by hedwards · 2012-01-19 02:36 · Score: 1, Funny

MS wants code for Windows to be as inept and inefficient as possible. I never thought they would get to the point where they weren't just tolerating poor practices, but encouraging them as well.
1. Re:This just confirms it by elsurexiste · 2012-01-19 03:01 · Score: 3, Funny
  The achievement for using goto is "Go To Hell". How is that encouraging, I have no idea :) . In fact, most of those achievements are just a funny take on amateur programmers. Just take a look at the list:
  
  Interrupting Cow (Have 10 breakpoints in a file.Where's that bug? Could here, could be there, could be anywhere! - 5 points)
  Stubby (Generate method stubs 9 times. You're a TDD bad ass! - 5 points)
  Save A Tree (Print source code. My boss told me to. I swear! - 5 points)
  --
  I rarely respond to comments. Also, don't ask for clarifications: a brain and Google are faster, believe me!
Re:I miss GOTO...there I said it by gilwooden · 2012-01-19 02:41 · Score: 5, Funny

You can use labels in java to break out of nested loops!
Re:"Gamification" doesn't make dull things a game. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-19 02:42 · Score: 2, Funny

I know right? It is poor to think that only 5 'curse' words per file gets you Potty Mouth status. They obviously think that is a challenge.
Re:Actually... by Deus.1.01 · 2012-01-19 02:47 · Score: 5, Funny

*even grammar*

--
My -1 Troll is actually a +1 funny. And my -1 flame is actually a +1 insightfull.
Do While by QBasicer · 2012-01-19 02:49 · Score: 3, Funny

It better have one for do-whiles, I always feel like I've made a great accomplishment when I use one. It makes a day a little less sucky.

--
x86, oh yes, I'm pro.
Re:I miss GOTO...there I said it by Sponge+Bath · 2012-01-19 02:54 · Score: 5, Funny

...when your code screams for a goto, use it!
When your code anthropomorphizes, hit the delete key.
Resume builder? by ashmon · 2012-01-19 02:57 · Score: 5, Funny

So, is this going to be a good thing to put on your resume?
* Stay focused and attentive to work.
* Hard worker
* Level 32 Visual Studio Achievements
* Stays on task
Uhhhh...
Obvious isn't it? by Viol8 · 2012-01-19 02:58 · Score: 5, Funny

Huge hideous bugs!
Only 5 curses in one file? by Coisiche · 2012-01-19 03:05 · Score: 4, Funny

Clearly my code commenting technique is slightly different from the norm.
Maybe the real reason.... by Dcnjoe60 · 2012-01-19 03:35 · Score: 4, Funny

Maybe the real reason for the badges and leaderboards is so inept managers who know more about marketing than programming have some way to evaluate what the programmers are doing.
Re:Possible badges for good code by greg1104 · 2012-01-19 04:01 · Score: 3, Funny

Do we really need the badges?
We don't need no stinkin' badges!. Or badgers.