Watching People Code Is Becoming an (Even Bigger) Thing

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Watching People Code Is Becoming an (Even Bigger) Thing

Posted by timothy on Thursday July 2, 2015 @03:53AM from the playing-to-the-camera dept.

itwbennett writes: Faithful Slashdot readers may recall the story of Adam Wulf, who spent two weeks live-streaming himself writing a mobile app. The phenomenon has quickly become thing, by which we mean a business. Twitch.TV, Watch People Code (which is an offshoot of the subreddit by the same name), Ludum Dare, and, of course, YouTube, are bursting with live or archived streams of lots of people writing lots of code for lots of different things. And just this week, Y Combinator-backed startup Livecoding.TV launched. The site has signed up 40,000 users since its beta went live in February, but unlike the other sites in this space what it doesn't have (and doesn't have plans for) is advertising. As co-founder Jamie Green told ITworld: 'We have some different ideas around monetisation in the pipeline, but for now we are just focussed on building a community around live education.'

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Who watches this crap? by enigma32 · 2015-07-02 03:57 · Score: 5, Insightful

This is even worse than a stream watching someone play a game. Who wastes their time with these things?
If you want to improve your coding skill you're better off practicing and reviewing code written by those more experienced than you, not watching someone "in the act" of doing it.
1. Re:Who watches this crap? by FilmedInNoir · 2015-07-02 04:04 · Score: 1
  
  Insomniacs maybe?
  
  --
  Sig. Sig. Sputnik
2. Re:Who watches this crap? by enigma32 · 2015-07-02 04:07 · Score: 1
  
  Insomniacs maybe?
  That's what ASMR videos are for ;)
  https://www.youtube.com/result...
3. Re:Who watches this crap? by CustomSolvers2 · 2015-07-02 04:10 · Score: 1
  
  Honestly, no idea. Young(er) people seem to like this thing of watching instead of doing a lot.
  
  I am actually testing it as a way to have some of my coding work on tape (together with my comments, attitude, etc.). That is: basically a coding self-promotion. Also a nice practice to improve my talk-to-camera skills
  
  I am currently starting and thus cannot say too much about the results, but so far it is delivering exactly what I want. Well... there might be some bothering watchers, but after a couple of hard-enough words they usually go away and I can focus on writing code as I want.
  
  --
  Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
4. Re:Who watches this crap? by i.r.id10t · 2015-07-02 04:12 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Depends on how the streamer works. Just watching text appear in an editor with the sound of cheetos being munched? Not very helpful.
  But, if there is a running commentary about how they are thinking of solving a particular (sub?) problem, deciding what arguments a function needs, what it needs to return back to the calling location, etc. can certainly help with the "How do I solve a problem" type stuff.
  
  --
  Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
5. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:12 · Score: 0
  
  Yo dawg, I heard you like to code?
6. Re:Who watches this crap? by hsa · 2015-07-02 04:17 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I have been coding commercial software since 2000. I worked as a teaching assistant for an introductory programming course in one of the top universities in my country. I think these videos are awesome. One 2 hour video should be mandatory part of high school IT classes. Every year, we used to get 2-5 people in our 700-800 people course, who do not belong. They are definately not becoming coders, they are in pain and shouting "IS THIS IT? IS THIS WHAT I HAVE CHOSEN? WHAT IS THIS SH*T?". Then they drop out or go on to pursue other study paths. If they had seen a video about a coder in action, they would have quickly grasped the work they would end up doing in their careers. Young people seem to think, there is some sort of glamour in writing mobile games that they are blind to the reality of coding.
7. Re:Who watches this crap? by Austerity+Empowers · 2015-07-02 04:23 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I don't know who does this, but I'm waiting for the market of "watching paint dry" to start picking up, then I'm buying a can of paint and charging $300 for an hour of viewing.
8. Re:Who watches this crap? by phantomfive · 2015-07-02 04:34 · Score: 1
  
  If you can stream it with entertaining commentary (like Mystery Science Theater 2000), then you can get viewers.
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
9. Re:Who watches this crap? by RabidReindeer · 2015-07-02 04:35 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  It's nonsense. I do my coding in my head. You want to "watch me code", get an EEG or a CT scan.
  When I'm sitting at the keyboard, I'm not "coding", I'm typing. If I have coded correctly, then I'm typing fast. If I haven't, I either retire from the keyboard and revise my coding, sit and stare vacantly while I'm revising my coding, or cut-and-paste.
  Here's a clue, then. When I look my most "productive", I'm not. When I look the most busy then I'm not doing my most valuable work. In fact, like a lot of people, the really valuable work is done while I'm in the shower or in bed not-sleeping in the wee hours.
  And THAT, children, is why I get surly when you come and interrupt me while I'm "just sitting there". Because while it's irritating to be interrupted when I'm trying to get it all typed in, it's enraging to have someone push a cow in front of my train of thought.
10. Re:Who watches this crap? by freeze128 · 2015-07-02 04:37 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Are you new to coding? Have you ever wanted to write a program or app, but didn't know where to begin? You can read books about programming, but that only takes you so far. Sometimes, you just want to see how other (successful) people do it.
  
  Every single book I have read about C++ programming tells you how the language works, but suspiciously says something to the effect of "Using your compiler is beyond the scope of this book".
  
  Terrific!
  
  You can learn how to program, but you will never see the rewards of your effort because you don't know what linking/compiling is or what object/executable code is.
11. Re:Who watches this crap? by Austerity+Empowers · 2015-07-02 04:40 · Score: 1
  
  I understand, I actually debugged an issue in my sleep three days ago. The solution came to me a few hours before my alarm went off, I opened my laptop, typed some stuff, problem solved. Back to blissful sleep.
  Exciting stuff.
12. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:44 · Score: 1
  
  There's a lot more to coding than the code itself. Watching someone's IDE and command line tricks, how they navigate code to modify it, how they read code, etc.
  One of the things that make pair coding so successful is being able to watch someone else code, to notice all the things they do that they never thought to tell anyone else about. This is just an extension of that.
13. Re:Who watches this crap? by Austerity+Empowers · 2015-07-02 04:45 · Score: 1
  
  The way I started, was I read books from people who were successful. Then messed around with their code. Then realized I wanted a new feature and added my own code, and then it was broken and I read more, etc.
  I cannot imagine how watching someone type for hours is instructional, you could get well in to a book by that point.
14. Re:Who watches this crap? by CustomSolvers2 · 2015-07-02 04:50 · Score: 1
  
  From my short experience, the fact that I am really bad at talking to camera and by letting very clear that I am not a watcher (and that I might even be using the system almost against its true intention), I can say that nobody "code" as you describe it. Nobody starts to analyse a complex problems and thinks during hours about the best approach. I don't think that there are even people streaming "serious" work.
  
  In my case, for example, I am taking advantage from a code rewriting a had to do and I am doing it very calmly. You don't need to say anything if you don't want, but it comes out naturally (talking about what you are currently doing or even about not-directly related issues, like telling an anecdote about why using certain approach). In fact, right now I am trying to reduce the talking and write more code, because I am wasting too much time and getting too distracted.
  
  --
  Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
15. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:54 · Score: 0
  
  C'mon; it's still more exciting than golf!
16. Re: Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:55 · Score: 0
  
  I only went to an average university so I want to make sure I understand your issue...
  You have a 99.9%+ retention rate and this constitutes all students taking a prerequisite?
  You're stating that the student would have to pay to take a required class to watch people program.
  Have you ever looked at medical school retention rates? There have been medical documentaries on TV forever yet some people just can't deal with the reality. Do you realize how many students switch majors mid stream?
  5 that do not belong may be devastating in your isolated world, but 99.9% is better than great!
17. Re:Who watches this crap? by CustomSolvers2 · 2015-07-02 04:56 · Score: 1
  
  Side Comment: why slashdot.org is the only site not allowing to edit your posts? I am so used to quickly click on "submit" and to perform all the corrections later via editions that I haven't still written a single post in slashdot.org without spelling/grammar errors!!
  
  --
  Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
18. Re:Who watches this crap? by ThatsDrDangerToYou · 2015-07-02 04:59 · Score: 2
  
  I don't know who does this, but I'm waiting for the market of "watching paint dry" to start picking up, then I'm buying a can of paint and charging $300 for an hour of viewing.
  Well, clearly, this is the introductory offer, right? I wouldn't expect such a good deal once this thing goes viral..
19. Re:Who watches this crap? by CastrTroy · 2015-07-02 05:00 · Score: 2
  
  I kind of agree on this. Watching others code can really help you pick up on things you can't get from a book. For instance, VS.Net has a really nice feature where you can Type Ctrl+?, which focuses on the search field. Then you type ">of" followed by a file name. You can do this to open files and edit them. It also has autocomplete so you can find your files faster. I use this functionality for switching back and forth between files all the time. It's often a lot faster than going to the mouse to switch which file you're working on.
  I even see a lot of new coders who don't know how to do things like use the debugger. Watching actual coding could be boring, but you could probably pick up a lot of useful tips for how to actually use the tools. Over the years, veteran coders pick up a lot of shortcuts that might not be immediately obvious to many programmers, both old and new.
  
  --
  
  Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
20. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:03 · Score: 0
  
  And your code directly from your head just compiles and does what you expect with every permutation of inputs the first time around? I don't think so. I think most people "code" in their mind and then spend a shitload of time on things like, "huh, I wonder why it did that."
21. Re:Who watches this crap? by zAPPzAPP · 2015-07-02 05:06 · Score: 1
  
  Hopefully these streamers comment what they are doing and why they are doing it.
  I doubt anyone would watch a stream of text appearing on a screen with no comment?
  For someone as myself, who works on projects for smaller clients a lot, often alone, that would be an interesting thing. There are a lot of little things you can pick up from others, but you wouldn't think of them by yourself. Watching this a bit may lead to some good insights.
22. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:09 · Score: 0
  
  the really valuable work is done while I'm in the shower or in bed
  This together with the question "Why would anyone want to watch someone code?" makes me think in the lines of pornstars pretending to be programmers in the shower.
23. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:14 · Score: 0
  
  Same people who watch sports on tv probably.
24. Re:Who watches this crap? by Rasperin · 2015-07-02 05:19 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  This is exactly what I was thinking, the best way I've found to help jr programmers is a kinda pair programming where I explain things while they watch. When I run into a fork, I talk out loud about which route (and obviously take any input if offered, which rarely is, sometimes I push them to think about a complex question too but the idea is to keep mobility). And then assign them the other half of the day with there own tasks.
  
  With modern languages there are just so many "you should use this over that" and pitfalls that you can run into sometimes having the fish can be more helpful. (I really want to explain why this metaphor works so please bear (pun caught, now intended) with me) You need energy to fish, also you have to learn how to clean and cook the fish which is best done by the experienced individual the first couple of times so you don't die or have the shits from a simple mistake.
  
  Anyways, food for though. :D
  
  --
  WTF Slashdot, why do I have to login 50 times to post?
25. Re:Who watches this crap? by UnknownSoldier · 2015-07-02 05:27 · Score: 1
  
  Oh get off your high horse already with your myopic POV.
  A bunch of us game devs "stream" coding. Some on Twitch others on YouTube.
  The real-time nature of Twitch means people can ask questions and get insight into why the coder is doing it _that_ way instead of _this_ way.
  If you want to see how "professionals" solve problems it can be worth while. For experienced developers I agree it is probably a waste of time, but for inexperienced developers you can learning coding style, naming conventions, organization, IDE usage, etc. You're right that experience it the best teacher but sometimes is is beneficial to see what others are doing. I assume you *never* use StackOverflow / StackExchange?
  The downside is that more often then not the conversation gets derailed with the "noobs" clogging up the topics with flamewars over the "right" way to do something.
26. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:28 · Score: 0
  
  HAHAHHAHAHHAHA, my thoughts exactly. Dear god GP what did you do, add a font tag... on purpose?
  
  You hate us all don't you?
27. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:30 · Score: 1
  
  I've seen/witnessed 70% washout rates in a State College. It can be worse than Thunderdome, at least there 2 men enter and 1 leaves. This for for command line which only has a very basic level of coding/scripting incorporated within it.
  Though to be fair the instructor was very hard on everyone, but anyone I know who survived has had 0 problems advancing their careers after college. It's also the prime location I went to when searching for interns or new part time help.
  Apparently we're on opposite ends of the spectrum where I've seen only 30% of people who 'belong'.
28. Re:Who watches this crap? by enigma32 · 2015-07-02 05:32 · Score: 2
  
  This type of thinking is exactly the same as the folks pushing the "everyone can/should learn how to program" idiocy.
  Programming is not easy. Watching a video of someone coding some random thing will not make it easier. Ease comes with practice and reading a *lot* of code, both good and bad.
  Do you honestly think it is possible to show anything but the most facile examples in a video that someone will actually be able to follow?
29. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:42 · Score: 0
  
  If you want to improve your coding skill you're better off practicing and reviewing code written by those more experienced than you, not watching someone "in the act" of doing it.
  So instead of sitting at home on youtube watching someone write up an example program and describe/explain to me what and why they are doing the things the way they are doing...
  You want me to go to a classroom and pay an instructor to let me watch them write up an example program on a whiteboard and describe/explain to me what and why they are doing the things they are doing...
  I dunno man, sounds pretty elitist to me.
  I also call into question your claim that only college instructors are capable of having any programming experience, and everyone outside of that class must have zero experience.
  Not to mention the situation where the person teaching coding on youtube being a 20 year vet compared to a college instructor with only 2 years experience, sounds like would throw your logic right out the window.
30. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:47 · Score: 0
  
  This is even worse than a stream watching someone play a game. Who wastes their time with these things?
  I'll give you and honest answer, for my part.
  At this point my actual work is sufficiently boring and tedious that I need another "input" running somewhere. What it actually is doesn't matter that much, just as long as the silence is filled. Hit youtube and find "long" videos on some topic of interest and fire it up while I deal with incompetents and their cop-out non-efforts to get stuff working as they fake their way through their day.
  Some people have figured out that this need for a content supply and interest in technical stuff makes creates an audience for long videos about things like antique radio restoration [mr. carlson's lab] or tearing down tektronix oscilloscopes [eevblog] or refurbishing and testing jet engines [agentjayz]. There is enough cheap bandwidth now to do some of this "live." Recently some of those people have been developers that have enough talent to do moderately interesting work.
  Johnathan Blow's little JAI programming language is a perfect example. He's smart, has interesting thoughts and informed opinions about stuff and just enough personality to pull it off live as he invents a programming language that might actually matter some day. Who knows?
  It's just filler. You're not missing anything.
31. Re:Who watches this crap? by enigma32 · 2015-07-02 06:01 · Score: 1
  
  I frequently use StackOverflow. You're not exactly comparing apples to apples.
  SO is inherently nonlinear. People can ask problems when they encounter them (or, better, just search for others that have asked the same questions). You'll find people get a much greater benefit from learning something when they want to know the answer rather than when they just happened to stumble upon some bit of knowledge. Problem-solving is not a skill you learn by watching --you learn it by doing-- and it's problem-solving that is the important bit of programming, not coding. Any programmer worth their salt knows that.
  In contrast, by watching a stream of some [hopefully knowledgeable] developer, the viewer must be "learning" to solve either inherently simple problems or problems that are impossible to follow in a short period of time. (In the same way that you can't just pick up a new codebase and instantly know what's going on, how is the viewer to follow anything more than the same simple examples they can easily find in text form anywhere on the web?)
32. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 06:07 · Score: 0
  
  Very much this.
  To be very blunt, most coders are trash and have horrible practices, don't think things through logically and I can bet a large number don't even know basic ways of modelling a system, never mind UML. (which itself is mostly bullshit anyway, you only need pseudo, sequence and object diagrams, literally every other diagram is a lesser version of these in some way, or at a different "angle")
  Watching someone solve a specific problem and saying how they went about it, is far superior than stackoverflow tier "here is your solution now git out!".
  Very few people on help websites say why they did something, and likewise, very few even ask their answerers back as to why they did something, so NOBODY LEARNS and programming dies just a little bit more.
  Of course, sadly like concerns already made in and around these comments, it will be flooded with generic shitty people that don't explain things at all, cannot explain things because they suck at it, moody, try to tell awful forced jokes, there WILL be people that will try to tell Big Bang tier jokes, and their will never find a way to monetise it and it will die off in 1.5 years time.
33. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 06:10 · Score: 0
  
  Why do people watch others play basketball/football/golf/etc? It's the same thing.
34. Re:Who watches this crap? by slickwillie · 2015-07-02 06:13 · Score: 1
  
  I haven't watched the video but I would imagine it's like when a film-maker tells the actors to ad lib.
  They get really loud and say "Fuck!" a lot.
35. Re:Who watches this crap? by Minwee · 2015-07-02 06:25 · Score: 1
  
  That market was saturated years and years ago.
  What you want is to start a new trend towards "retro, artisanal, locally sourced, eight-bit drying paint".
36. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 06:30 · Score: 0
  
  Actually, one of the old posting methods is to post as "code". You can still get to it if you use the "classic" comment system. (Right-click on Reply to This to find it) Yay! Godzilla! I'm on fire and I like the taste of liquid gold!
37. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 06:46 · Score: 0
  
  I've not done anything with C or C++ in 15+ years, but I'd love to listen to Linus Torvalds' thought process as he is looking at a bit of code after determining that there is a problem in it - say, a race condition.
  How does he determine that bit of code is responsible? How/where does he set break points to see what is going on? What code does he write to catch it and deal with it? What is his testing process to determine if he has actually found the culprit and then fixed it?
  Sure, I'll most likely never even look at the source for the Linux kernel - but being able to follow his thinking process as he solves the problem could be very educational for all sorts of other things.
38. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 06:47 · Score: 1
  
  It's not necessarily to learn something, but just to watch how a programmer works. It is like those tv-shows that mount a camera on a train and just live stream the images without editing. It is called 'Slow TV', and there is a Ted talk about it: Slow TV if you want to see how popular these kind of shows are. I've personally watched a train voyage for hours, while I was recovering from the flue. Nothing happens, it just goes on and on, but it forces you to use your own imagination, instead of digesting the imagination of someone else who most likely has the agenda of making programs/movies that please the lowest common denominator.
  
  I don't know what's interesting about watching a programmer, but that has probably more to do with the fact that I'm a programmer myself, although I've to confess I've waisted 15 minutes watching someone program in Swift (I language I haven't yet given a look at).
39. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 07:10 · Score: 0
  
  > inherently simple problems
  Everyone has to start somewhere.
  Someone needs to explain that a^2 + b^2 = c^2 for right angle triangles even though it's a simple problem.
  Some people just benefit from seeing how other people tackle a problem.
  I also think that the majority of the people watching these coding streams aren't people who code for a living, unless they enjoy pointing out mistakes on other peoples code.
40. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 07:21 · Score: 0
  
  >Who wastes their time with these things?
  The people who fall for these Viral marketing stories.
41. Re:Who watches this crap? by BlackHawk-666 · 2015-07-02 07:38 · Score: 1
  
  +1
  I run through nearly every part of a system in my head before I even think about touching a keyboard. I think about it at the highest levels, then hone in on areas I know will be difficult or enforce some particular constraint on the system. When I think I have a good understanding of what I'm about to build, the technology I need to use, and constraints - then I sit at a PC and start to...study all that shit in detail. I make sure I know the algorithms and techniques I'm looking to use are appropriate.
  After that, it's just a matter of sitting down and pushing the design out of my brain and into the PC. I usually code alone these days so 9/10 times I will pound it straight into code with perhaps a set of notes typed up for reminders of what I just worked out.
  
  --
  All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
42. Re:Who watches this crap? by 0100010001010011 · 2015-07-02 07:40 · Score: 1
  
  People that learn by watching?
  Some people learn by doing, some people learn by watching, some people learn by reading.
  Reading and doing have been covered for a while but.
  My coding technique is closer to the shotgun approach where I throw stuff at the wall, see what sticks, peel it off and throw it at more walls. It's hacky but it's how I code. When something is ready for final public release is when it gets documentation and proper indentation.
  Just reviewing someone's final proper code won't help me figure out how they got there.
  This just reeks of "Old man yells at cloud", just because it's different than how you learned it or do it doesn't instantly make it wrong or stupid.
43. Re:Who watches this crap? by 0100010001010011 · 2015-07-02 07:49 · Score: 1
  
  I cannot imagine how watching someone type for hours is instructional, you could get well in to a book by that point.
  I cannot imagine how just sitting reading a book is instructional. I would rather see someone do it. Look at the proliferation of youtube videos on how to do basic stuff like change your oil. Some people are visual learners. Those people used to go into trades where as book learners went to college.
  A civil engineer could tell you all the theory behind pipe flow but I want a plumber plumbing my house. Someone that learned through hands on visual training.
  Programming and coding is on its way to being a trade and it's sad seeing Slashdotters get on the case of people that are visual learners because they can't imagine why anyone would want to watch someone do something.
44. Re:Who watches this crap? by tlambert · 2015-07-02 08:08 · Score: 1
  
  the really valuable work is done while I'm in the shower or in bed
  This together with the question "Why would anyone want to watch someone code?" makes me think in the lines of pornstars pretending to be programmers in the shower.
  And then he opened the SPARCStation pizza box to reveal... a Zilog UART!
45. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 08:08 · Score: 0
  
  Hip kids. But you seem like a cool dude, not like those hip kids. You take great pride in what you do not do.
46. Re:Who watches this crap? by Your.Master · 2015-07-02 08:34 · Score: 2
  
  Watching somebody type is worthless.
  Watching somebody's thought process as they write code is maybe helpful, maybe worthless.
  Watching somebody code while they natter about random things could be entertaining, depending on how entertaining the coder is.
  Watching somebody debug their code is by far the best way to learn advanced debugging techniques that I've ever seen. That goes way beyond facile examples.
  I haven't watched any of these streams. I don't know what they do. But I can't discard it as idiocy without thinking it through.
47. Re:Who watches this crap? by narcc · 2015-07-02 08:36 · Score: 1
  
  This type of thinking is exactly the same as the folks pushing the "everyone can/should learn how to program" idiocy.
  Programming is not easy.
  
  Don't be silly. Programming is ridiculously easy. So easy, in fact, that young children can, and often do, teach themselves. The bulk of programmers here taught themselves -- a good many of those when they were less than 10 years old.
  Anyone can do it. It does not take a special mind. Looking at studies done in the 80's, there's evidence that programming can be successfully introduced early in elementary school. You'll find that there isn't any evidence for the absurd belief that programming is limited to a select few.
  That may hurt your feelings. It's hard to accept the fact that the skill you're so proud to hold doesn't make you special or unique in any way. I hate to see anyone suffer, but spreading nonsense like "programming is hard" and the absurd belief that only a select few are capable of writing computer programs is harmful.
  
  --
  Required reading for internet skeptics
48. Re:Who watches this crap? by rsimpson · 2015-07-02 08:56 · Score: 1
  
  I do. It is the equivalent of reading a book on a subject. You see how other people think and categorise their code, hopefully inspiring or improving your own. Even if you don't agree with the way they are doing it, you broaden your spectrum on how things should not be done or how they can be done better. I've been a programmer for 24 years (12 of those as a professional) and I love watching people program as an inspiration. Watching notch code a doom engine from scratch in WebGL (Dart?) after constantly criticising his love of Java with Minecraft ... it made me interested in new languages and new techniques and made me respect him more. Watching Handmade Hero do SIMD optimizations inspired me to learn more about CPU architecture (again). I can learn these things on my own, but I can't inspire myself to learn them. That is what code streaming helps with ... inspiration.
49. Re:Who watches this crap? by enigma32 · 2015-07-02 09:06 · Score: 1
  
  First of all: Bullshit....
  I have tried to help numerous people who just don't "get it", and have reached the conclusion that they never will.
  That doesn't mean that they're incapable of it. It just shows that it's more difficult than they'd like and they don't wish to expend the necessary effort on it-- and they often give up before joining the ranks of us that "get it".
  Yes, anyone can learn how to do basic things with programming. But thinking about complex systems it not something that is easy to do for any of us. If you think it is, you've obviously never worked on anything very complex.
  Second: I'm not "proud" of my skills as a programmer.
  I'm quite competent, with a significant amount of experience, but unless you're working in a research lab somewhere it's mostly regurgitation of the same crap that you've already written ten times and therefor there's nothing to really be all that proud of.
  I aspire to something more challenging and am headed in that direction.
  But I'm not going to lie to people and tell them that programming is "easy" in the mean time, much as I won't tell them that "math" is easy. These things *are not easy*. They are hard. Both worth the effort to learn.
50. Re:Who watches this crap? by CustomSolvers2 · 2015-07-02 09:11 · Score: 1
  
  You can speak English since you were very young (I presume). In fact, you started speaking English without studying anything (I presume again). By following your reasoning, English is very easy and nobody should be proud of how much English they know
  
  Yeah, that makes lots of sense.
  
  --
  Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
51. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 09:20 · Score: 0
  
  Guys,
  In a world where everyone is developing the "same" app, framework, platform, or game...
  a. log on to watch someone coding.
  b. run a video screen scraper onto your computer
  c. OCR the video
  d. clean up the resulting code text files
  e. compile & build
  f. post on some cloud service & setup a PSP
  g. PROFIT!
52. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 09:31 · Score: 0
  
  You call it "coding" but what you're describing is actually design. Good developers write down those designs rather than just doing it in their head.
  And you're surly because you lack people skills, not because you're a genius. No one can tell if you're thinking profound thoughts or day-dreaming. So either have set times they can come and interrupt, or have a do not disturb sign or some other way to indicate you need to be left alone. No one deserves the lack of respect you're boasting about.http://developers.slashdot.org/story/15/07/02/1539204/watching-people-code-is-becoming-an-even-bigger-thing#
53. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 09:36 · Score: 0
  
  It's just another form of reality TV. People who want to live vicariously without putting any effort in watch it.
54. Re:Who watches this crap? by Wraithlyn · 2015-07-02 10:44 · Score: 1
  
  Reviewing completed code doesn't tell you anything about the process of actually constructing it.
  I recently did a presentation of a new framework at work. I decided to do it as a live-coding exercise. Everyone agreed it was far more engaging and illustrative than sharing a bunch of static code for them to look over. Seeing the end product is entirely different than seeing it built step by step.
  
  --
  "Mind, as manifested by the capacity to make choices, is to some extent present in every electron." -Freeman Dyson
55. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 11:02 · Score: 0
  
  I agree -- for coding. But watching a really good player play a game often reveals tactics and strategies that I wouldn't see from just grinding it out on my own. This is especially true for complex games where the permutations for movement control, etc. are too great to iterate through and try out. It's also true for unit-level games, where studying how 30 people work in sub teams with a battalion cmdr is only really possible when you aren't getting shot at yourself. (e.g. Planetside 2)
56. Re:Who watches this crap? by TapeCutter · 2015-07-02 11:36 · Score: 1
  
  Programming or playing a musical instrument is easy, doing it well enough to get paid is hard.
  
  --
  And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
57. Re:Who watches this crap? by Javagator · 2015-07-02 11:48 · Score: 1
  
  Programming is easy. Developing large, reliable applications that are easy to use, understand, modify, and extend is difficult. Otherwise, programmers would not be making the significant salaries they get, and there would not be so many failed applications.
58. Re:Who watches this crap? by Indigo · 2015-07-02 11:53 · Score: 1
  
  You owe me a keyboard :-)
59. Re:Who watches this crap? by TapeCutter · 2015-07-02 12:01 · Score: 1
  
  Similar background, but since 1991, totally agree with your post, many of the older teenagers who want to "write games" are artists, not coders.
  
  --
  And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
60. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 13:27 · Score: 0
  
  I got started with Sam's Teach Yourself C++ in 21 days. The book came with a CD containing both MSFT Visual Studio and DJGPP. In the first chapter, the book told me *exactly* how to put the code from the first lesson into a Visual Studio project, compile and run it and also -IIRC- how to do the same in DJGPP. I had *never* touched a compiler or knew any programming language other than Apple BASIC before I opened this book. I had zero trouble with building my first program.
  In short, every single book you've read about C++ seriously sucked.
61. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 13:33 · Score: 0
  
  > I cannot imagine how just sitting reading a book is instructional.
  To each their own. I cannot tolerate sitting through some talking head's droning spiel. For complex topics, I require the ability to go back and instantly re-consume presented material to understand points that I miss, and instantly pause the presentation to let a complex point sink in.
  Folks have forgotten that in-class lectures are supposed to reinforce and supplement one's pre-class reading of the material covered by the lecture. Great lectures don't walk you through the material, they connect it to things you've already learned about in non-obvious ways and fill in the instructional gaps left by the textbook authors.
62. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 14:28 · Score: 0
  
  A "Top 50 tips and tricks for $FAVORITE_IDE" site would be a faster and easier way to get this information.
63. Re:Who watches this crap? by nehumanuscrede · 2015-07-02 14:58 · Score: 1
  
  Why not ?
  They do it already in other fields pretty well.
  3D content creation for example. Loads and LOADS of videos showing folks creating 3D models and animation from scratch along with commentary of not only what they're doing but why they're doing it this way. Entire business models are built around this ( Digital Tutors and Gnomon Workshop come to mind ) and they seem to be doing rather well.
  Another would be any of the numerous Network Administration training sites out there. ( Like CBT Nuggets for example ) You watch the instructors walk though not only how to build up a network from scratch, but why they're using this particular routing protocol or that version of Spanning Tree over another.
  Read your books, watch the videos, start experimenting with it yourself. It's one of the better ways to learn imo.
  While boring as hell to us non-programmers, folks who are inclined to be future coders might find such a thing to be rather useful.
64. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 16:34 · Score: 0
  
  Parent AC is a worthless piece of shit. GP is spot on.
65. Re: Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 17:04 · Score: 0
  
  I feel like I have done most programming tasks already, so most of the time it is just mechanical repeating without hardly any thinking. But I love solving problems. Especially those declared impossible. First I define goal and then I try to come up with at least 3 alternatives how to get there. Then I rother pick the besr or try them out. Sometimes I also study code by trying to change it. I can write and revert code several times until I know how to solve the problem. Then I start writing the final solution.
66. Re:Who watches this crap? by Viol8 · 2015-07-02 20:57 · Score: 1
  
  Nice one. :o) Wish I had mod points.
67. Re:Who watches this crap? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 23:43 · Score: 0
  
  we children feel the same toward our superiors at times
68. Re:Who watches this crap? by enigma32 · 2015-07-03 03:03 · Score: 1
  
  Building the end product is entirely different than seeing it built step by step.
  Fixed that for you.
69. Re:Who watches this crap? by RabidReindeer · 2015-07-03 04:00 · Score: 1
  
  Actually, (getoffmylawn) when I started, in school, we had like 1 keypunch and dozens of students. So you'd better have your text in order before you sat down. First job I had a lot of old-timers never typed anything at all. They wrote it out on coding pads, sent it to Data Entry, and they returned a source deck.
  There are times when I think one of the biggest mistakes ever made was in giving programmers direct code entry. You can waste so much typing mindlessly when you should be thinking.
  But times have moved on, and so now the programmer can not only be the Data Entry person, but also the (laid-off) DBA and the (laid-off) Network Engineer. And by the way, we need that new app out by Thursday. So put a little Extra Effort into it, m'kay?
  Talk about distractions.
70. Re:Who watches this crap? by dataspel · 2015-07-03 05:39 · Score: 1
  
  Well, please post a link to your videos.
71. Re:Who watches this crap? by CustomSolvers2 · 2015-07-03 06:04 · Score: 1
  
  Thanks for your interest, but it is not the kind of self-promotion which I want to post everywhere. I am pretty bad at talking to camera (I get distracted very easily) and haven't done a single video yet which I seriously like.
  
  On the other hand, I am sure that anyone being even partially interested in finding these videos, will certainly find them. And this is basically what I want: interested potential clients, not everyone. Note that I don't get any kind of benefit with more or less watchers. For me, this is just an excuse to have my code (and my attitude) on tape; like uploading a code to GitHub.
  
  PS: I am using C# Winforms and the videos are addressed to knowledgeable programmers.
  
  --
  Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
72. Re:Who watches this crap? by nightcats · 2015-07-03 06:55 · Score: 1
  
  A wise and insightful set of observations. I offer that praise, of course, only because the Reindeer reflects my own experience in working with that odd codebase known as "English." I once encountered a question at a LinkedIn group I follow, which asked: "How do you prefer to write -- with pen and paper or computer?" And my answer was, "neither." I further explained that a typical 1,500 word piece gets "written" when I'm out walking, sitting in meditation, or hitting golf balls at the driving range. Very often, the "scribbling" part is done with a pocket audio recorder, so that the typing becomes more a secretarial act than a creative one (editing, however, is an entirely different story).
  Perhaps the only area where I might differ from the Reindeer is in the matter of handling distractions. For me, the "cow in front of my train" can often become part of the thought. This piece, for instance, developed from such an interruption (someone drawing my attention to the Goswami rant that became the main subject of the essay). Sometimes, I have found, distraction can itself be focus disguised.
  Now, as for the topic here: if the experience of watching someone code (or write, paint, or even dig a ditch) is an opening into the creative process of the work, then it's worth the watch. That is to say, it's more likely to be a waste of time than a learning experience, but the one good encounter may be worth the ten bad, as long as you can quickly recognize the difference.
  
  --
  Development is programmable; Discovery is not programmable. (Fuller)
73. Re:Who watches this crap? by Wraithlyn · 2015-07-05 05:02 · Score: 1
  
  Thanks, captain obvious. That doesn't invalidate what I said.
  Of course practice is invaluable. Learning by doing is still the best way.
  But a combination of instruction and practical is better than either alone. Your original post is nothing more than "REAL men teach themselves".
  
  --
  "Mind, as manifested by the capacity to make choices, is to some extent present in every electron." -Freeman Dyson
What next? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 03:57 · Score: 1

Soon you'll be able to pay to view people using the toilet.
Translation by xxxJonBoyxxx · 2015-07-02 03:58 · Score: 5, Insightful

>> We have some different ideas around monetisation in the pipeline, but for now we are just focussed on building a community around live education
Translation: we are going to be ad-free to grab as many users as possible until we finalize the sale of the company to an appropriate advertiser. (That's pretty much how these start-ups work.)
1. Re:Translation by JaredOfEuropa · 2015-07-02 04:06 · Score: 1
  
  Bait and charge.
  
  --
  If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
2. Re:Translation by gstoddart · 2015-07-02 04:17 · Score: 1
  
  Yup, if we showed you the level of abuse we'll be doing you'd get scared off and not use our service, and our IPO could be in jeopardy.
  For now they're trying to pretend they won't start acting like assholes as soon as they can.
  
  --
  Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Fags by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:01 · Score: 0

Nothing more to say. Ain't no one watching me code.
Watching people code? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:02 · Score: 0

Sounds like this could be the new standard for the CIA interrogation rules. Much more humane than water boarding. Just as brutal.
Cool by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:04 · Score: 0

Interesting idea. I actually like the concept.
Chaturbate for nerds? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:06 · Score: 0

Why is this even a thing?
An thing by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:06 · Score: 1

an thing.....AN thing....AN THING
1. Re:An thing by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:39 · Score: 0
  
  an thing.....AN thing....AN THING
  An (extremely) good point!
People who really have no life by Viol8 · 2015-07-02 04:13 · Score: 3, Insightful

As the OP said - if you want to learn to code then review and practice. Watching is pointless.
1. Re:People who really have no life by Jason+Levine · 2015-07-02 05:05 · Score: 1
  
  I can see "watching coding" when it comes to instructional videos. I've had good experiences with some of those. However, watching someone code as a form of entertainment? I love to code but I'd be bored if I had to watch someone else code.
  
  --
  My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
2. Re:People who really have no life by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:06 · Score: 0
  
  Reviewing code is pointless if there is no feedback on weather you are reviewing it correctly and if you don't know if the code is good in the first place.
3. Re:People who really have no life by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-07 13:29 · Score: 0
  
  I have a code stream. It's actually helpful for the viewers, as I explain not just what I'm doing, but WHY. This is WHY coding to an interface is useful. This is WHY proper variable names can save you a lot of work.
  It also keeps me more alert as a programmer. There have been a couple times where I've been explaining what I was doing and then said "Wait a minute, I should really be using a Singleton for this", or similar.
Entertainment now days is lame! by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:18 · Score: 1

Now you can watch some fat ass eating Cheetos and drinking Mt. Dew with some occasional key punching!
Chrunch, chrunch, chrunch, slurp, nom, nom, nom,"See this is how you create a C# class", BELCH. Chrunch, chrunch, "when you look at this browser tab, it...oops", (closes pron tab), " we'll edit that out right?", chrunch, chrunch, "see how this is so much better than Java or Objective C!", FART.
Target Audience by MagickalMyst · 2015-07-02 04:19 · Score: 1

People who enjoy watching paint dry might be interested in this.

--
Political correctness is really just herd psychology pushed by insecure people who desperately seek social conformity.
bunch of fuckboys by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:22 · Score: 0

watching fuckboys
On the other hand... by dickens · 2015-07-02 04:24 · Score: 1

I recently had my first experience with a form of pair-coding, with another engineer looking over my shoulder while I explained an API he would be working with. It was unnerving at first but after a while I almost found a flow. I gained something by using my left brain to verbalize what I was doing with the very right-brain task of visualizing algorithms and data structures. I will probably be repeating this.
It's not about passively watching by mtippett · 2015-07-02 04:30 · Score: 3, Interesting

As a viewer, it's about learning technique and thought processes. Identifying issues, attempting a particular thought process, only those that provide a strong narrative to the work they are doing will be likely "stars". Watching how good programmers (assumption) deal with their environment and the typical problems they face. Seeing how people top down or bottom up write code is very interesting (within limits).
As a broadcasting coder, it takes a fair amount of personal confidence to do it, particular in this field. Having to verbalize what you are thinking and how you are considering the problems in front of you is actually quite challenging. Those that do well in the broadcasting scene will most likely be strong professionally as well.
That said, I personally don't understand the fandom about broadcast games to the level that it has taken. I get the benefits, but I don't get the market.
1. Re:It's not about passively watching by phaggood · 2015-07-02 05:01 · Score: 2
  
  Tho i haven't (yet) watched, I can see two things I'd get out of it 1) I've been doing AngularJS for a while so I know the syntax very well, but it'd be useful to see how someone might use it in a more productive manner; i.e. i start with services and tests, maybe someone else writes controllers and dummy views first. If there was another Angular person in my office maybe I'd get some of that at work, otherwise I'm must out in the woods by myself. 2) I've got to pick up Swift fairly quickly; I've signed up for a course on UDemy but knowing how I absorb and retain info it'd be very usefuil for me to see how it's used first, then take the course and get some 'aha, so *that's* why he did that' or 'oh, i see why he didn't do *that*' moments that could augment the course content.
2. Re:It's not about passively watching by mtippett · 2015-07-02 05:15 · Score: 2
  
  I agree fully. Having tried to get my mind around d3.js, there are *a lot* of leaps of understanding in coming to up to speed. Watching someone who provides a narrative how they get from a to d by verbalizing b and c will help immensely. The docs really go just from a to g.
Copying? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:31 · Score: 0

Isn't all the code you see in these videos effectively open source? How do you even convey license terms to some who is looking over your shoulder remotely? I hate to scream "lawyer", but I get the feeling there will be all kinds of legal issues popping up.
This should be entertaining by Snotnose · 2015-07-02 04:32 · Score: 4, Funny

Arrive at office. Read email. Get coffee. Figure out what I need to code today. Start a for loop. Change CDs. More coffee. Flesh out for loop. Look up String API, find a method better than what I was after. Scrap everything. Lunchtime!

Collaborate with a colleague. Get a Mountain Dew. Change CDs. Write glue code to make shiney new String API do what's required. Waste an hour explaining something basic to some marketing dude in a different state. Get code to compile. Scratch butt. Test/debug. Change CDs. Check working code into git. Figure out what needs to be coded next. Manager enters office, informs me requirements have changed and what I just checked into git is now wrong. Read /.. Go home.
1. Re:This should be entertaining by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:52 · Score: 1
  
  You still listen to CD's?! Get with the times grandpa!
2. Re:This should be entertaining by ZecretZquirrel · 2015-07-02 05:19 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  No bodily functions? Iron man.
3. Re:This should be entertaining by Snotnose · 2015-07-02 07:10 · Score: 1
  
  You still listen to CD's?! Get with the times grandpa!
  They're MP3 format but yeah, I still listen to CDs. I prefer whole albums over random songs.
  
  / Now playing: Amplifier: The Octopus // Next up: Tribute to Ronnie James Dio
4. Re:This should be entertaining by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 07:30 · Score: 0
  
  Someone should combine this Watching People Code nonsense with the "every girl must learn how to code" nonsense, they'll be a millionaire in short order.
  Step 1. Cameras
  Step 2. High school girls
  Step 3. ?? [Like, Java is at Starbucks, right?] ??
  Step 4. PROFIT!!!
5. Re:This should be entertaining by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 07:47 · Score: 0
  
  You don't "Kinda space out for a bit"?
  And when do you sort out the new covers for the TPS reports in that schedule?
If you think THAT's big by NotDrWho · 2015-07-02 04:34 · Score: 1

Just wait until I launch my "live streaming people entering usernames and passwords" site launches!

--
SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
Peak Codewatch will be when... by willworkforbeer · 2015-07-02 04:40 · Score: 1

There will be a channel to watch people watching other people code. I mean, just look at them, the way they watch the coder with such intensity!

--
Pretending this is my office full of bitter coworkers..
1. Re:Peak Codewatch will be when... by willworkforbeer · 2015-07-02 04:42 · Score: 1
  
  And yes! The watchers ARE training to be PHBs.
  
  --
  Pretending this is my office full of bitter coworkers..
It's not such a bad idea by asylumx · 2015-07-02 04:48 · Score: 4, Interesting

I've actually done something similar to this in the workplace before and found it to be very effective. Basically I scheduled a meeting for the last hour or so of the workday Friday and invited the other developers to come jump on with me. I shared my screen, we had an open mic, but basically I talked through what I was doing and they had a chance to see how my thought process works and also to make suggestions or ask questions. It turned out to be a good chance for the more junior folks to learn from me and some of the other experienced developers and at the same time it made us think about what we were doing at a deeper level, which is something you can get complacent in after you've been doing it a while.

This is something I did for several weeks in a row, but the last time was at least two years ago -- and yet as recently as last month I've had some of the folks that participated bring it up and comment how much they learned from it. If you think about it, it's basically pair programming on steroids.
1. Re:It's not such a bad idea by SillyHamster · 2015-07-02 05:58 · Score: 2
  
  If you think about it, it's basically pair programming on steroids.
  You reminded me of the last time I did pair programming. It was in college, and I recall thinking, "This is an awesome way to code!"
  I can see it becoming tedious when it's forced upon you all the time; but I remember liking the second pair of eyes to notice typos and other bugs, and having a second brain to double check the logic of what I was doing.
The New Golf by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 04:53 · Score: 0

Someone will always fill a specific slot.
That's nothing... by __aaclcg7560 · 2015-07-02 05:09 · Score: 1

I had a college roommate who kept his keyboard on the floor and typed out term papers with his long toes.
1. Re:That's nothing... by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 19:28 · Score: 0
  
  I'm a flid you insensitive clod!!!!!
Realtime would be more fun by tomhath · 2015-07-02 05:12 · Score: 1

Set up a screen share and let a few hundred people kibitz while you're trying to work. Imagine all the helpful advice you would get.
It's the old joke about work by ThatsNotPudding · 2015-07-02 05:24 · Score: 1

"Work is fascinating; I could watch it all day." Or the Kyle Kinane bit about Ice Road Truckers.
Can you still claim copyright on your code? by codepigeon · 2015-07-02 05:29 · Score: 1

If you are broadcasting your code live to millions (or hundreds) of people, can you still claim copyright? If you performed it in public it would seem anyone could use it.

I would assume you wouldn't use this service to flesh out your world changing video encryption code (you know, that 'middle out' idea you had)...
1. Re:Can you still claim copyright on your code? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:49 · Score: 0
  
  sed s/code/music/
  If you are broadcasting your music live to millions (or hundreds) of people, can you still claim copyright? If you performed it in public it would seem anyone could use it.
2. Re:Can you still claim copyright on your code? by ZombieBraintrust · 2015-07-02 06:54 · Score: 1
  
  publish == broadcast. In the USA publishing a work grants you copyright. You have copyright over what you publish on Twitch (assuming it not derivative work) Everything written on the internet is copyrighted. Including this comment. Fair Use exemptions and the terms of use you agreed to when you clicked Submit is why you have a license to read comments. Terms of use is why you can view content on Twitch. But the copyright still exists. You can't take someone Twitch content and then sell it.
Comment removed by account_deleted · 2015-07-02 05:43 · Score: 1

Comment removed based on user account deletion
Comment removed by account_deleted · 2015-07-02 05:54 · Score: 1

Comment removed based on user account deletion
the clueless PHB who is looking for the small bits by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 05:54 · Score: 0

the clueless PHB who is looking for the small bits of down time so they can dock the coders pay.
It's just people googling stuff by bangular · 2015-07-02 07:33 · Score: 1

I haven't seen much problem solving and thought process on the few I watched. It was mostly "google: how to get current mouse position in Unity"
1. Re:It's just people googling stuff by CustomSolvers2 · 2015-07-02 08:54 · Score: 1
  
  In my normal programming work (as said in other comment, while streaming, I am just doing easy-to-me developments; mainly because I am new to live coding and don't like too much talking to camera), I do use Google (or StackOverflow or Dot Net Perls or MSDN or equivalent sites) a lot; and I recommend to any programmer to rely on such a proceeding as much as required, rather than memorising anything. Why not using a computer for storing information (exact commands in the given language) and a programmer for creating programs (where the mere writing of commands is the less important part)?
  
  In any case and although most of my searches are really quick (I don’t make the effort of memorising, but after having repeated the same things quite a few times. . .), I have quickly learned to not do it while streaming. There are always some watchers who do not seem to have a relevant programming experience (even none at all; perhaps students or HR-related people), but who criticise in a more or less arbitrary way. I call them “programmers” (= low knowledge + arbitrarily criticising others).
  
  In summary, I don't see the problem with googling "how to get current mouse position". In fact, I think that this might be the ideal proceeding in quite a few contexts.
  
  --
  Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
2. Re:It's just people googling stuff by CustomSolvers2 · 2015-07-02 20:48 · Score: 1
  
  After having read some comments in other parts of this post, I just want to clarify that I have a VERY DEMANDING JOB, where I create different type of implementations on a regular basis. I am an experienced programmer who can face virtually any problem and, even though, I do think that perfectly knowing all the required commands does not represent a relevant knowledge. On the other hand, knowing the set of commands which delivers the best answer to a specific problem is certainly important.
  
  For example: you want your application to do actions A, B & C, what can be done in quite a few different ways by relying on the programming language you are currently using. From your experience, you know that using the set of commands C1+C2+C3 is the ideal approach. But you are not 100% sure about the exact syntax of C2 (i.e., was it cc01+cc02 or cc1+cc2?); and there is where a research/googling might come into picture (and should even be seen as a better alternative than memorisation).
  
  In summary: the only way to write a proper program is by having a proper programming knowledge (i.e., proper theoretical learning + lots of practice; the more variable and under more demanding conditions, the better), what only an experienced & knowledgeable programmer can have. In order to actually implement that knowledge (i.e., writing the code), the given programmer has to account for many small bits of information, whose exact syntax is not too important and can be stored in a computer (and retrieved via quick internet search) or in a book (and retrieved via quick reading) or anywhere else, not necessarily in the programmer's memory. Or in other words: you need lots of knowledge to become a good (book) writer, but you don't need to know each single word in the given language (for this, you have dictionaries).
  
  --
  Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
New Pretend to Work App by Lodlaiden · 2015-07-02 07:54 · Score: 1

Start one of the Editor only streams on one of your monitors in full screen where the boss can see. Surf Slashdot on the other.

--
Suborbital [spaceflight] is the special olympics of spaceflight. - Rei
Proportional fonts freak me out by tlambert · 2015-07-02 08:01 · Score: 1

Give me the fixed cell VT102 (yes, I need a printer) font any day.
Also it is much better for code.
FWIW: I do the same thing. by tlambert · 2015-07-02 08:03 · Score: 2

I spent 4 weeks thinking, and then I coded 22,000 lines of C++ in about two weeks.
Ended up in wrist braces.
The code was worth it.
I have an idea by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 08:05 · Score: 0

I'm going to make a website with nothing more than a blank white screen and call it - Watching Paint Dry
I'll follow up that up with a sequel site with a still image of a pot filled with cold water titled: Watch a pot of water come to a boil
Solving the wrong problem by tlambert · 2015-07-02 08:05 · Score: 2

Side Comment: why slashdot.org is the only site not allowing to edit your posts?
Errors are less of a problem than revisionist history.
1. Re:Solving the wrong problem by CustomSolvers2 · 2015-07-02 08:18 · Score: 1
  
  I wasn't complaining (and surely not blaming anyone else than myself), just highlighting something certainly curious. As per my knowledge, this is the only social-based site having such a "peculiar feature".
  
  Well... it was also a kind of justification for all my errors (quite uncommon in my posts on other sites, where I usually perform various "correcting rounds").
  
  --
  Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
2. Re:Solving the wrong problem by AdamHaun · 2015-07-02 09:35 · Score: 1
  
  As per my knowledge, this is the only social-based site having such a "peculiar feature".
  Slashdot has been around since 1997. The interface is much older than the ability to easily edit comments. Use Preview for proofreading.
  
  --
  Visit the
3. Re:Solving the wrong problem by CustomSolvers2 · 2015-07-02 19:43 · Score: 1
  
  Sure. As said, I am not complaining at all. In fact, this "limitation" might even be seen as something positive; and the typical all-the-editions-you-want as an implicit promotion of somehow bad behaviours (like mine of submitting before proofreading the text properly).
  
  I am just highlighting my impressions. Slashdot might be old, but I have started using its commenting features just some weeks ago.
  
  --
  Custom Solvers 2.0 = Alvaro Carballo Garcia = varocarbas.
For my 22K of code... by tlambert · 2015-07-02 08:06 · Score: 1

And your code directly from your head just compiles and does what you expect with every permutation of inputs the first time around?
For my 22K of code...
Yes. 3 bugs.
1. Re:For my 22K of code... by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 19:14 · Score: 0
  
  For my 22K of code...
  Yes. 3 bugs.
  There bugs that you know about. Industry average is 7 bugs per kloc, so there are probably on the order of 150 bugs that you don't know about. Some of these may be simple typos in strings. Others may be crashes waiting to happen at the worst possible time.
  p.s. Is 22k supposed to be big or small? I've averaged just north of 1000 kloc per week for the past 20 years, so I've probably created at least 7000 bugs that I don't know about yet. :(
Open Mind by ZombieBraintrust · 2015-07-02 08:09 · Score: 1

I'm not going to knock it till I try it. I have watched people at work before and learned little things.
Did the flue fall on you and hit you in the head? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-07-02 08:57 · Score: 0

Did the flue fall on you and hit you in the head?
Or did you get stuck in it trying to climb out of your life?
Learn workflows = awesome, although gems rare by CloudDrakken · 2015-07-02 12:17 · Score: 0

Yeah, a lot of experienced coders will say this is not where coding really happens. Say that you want to see someone's work flow in Emacs or how to make a python/django (web framework) website for the first time. This bridges a lot of gaps in knowledge and experience. If I could have simply seen which editors people were using and how they switched between coding and testing and revising, it would have saved me many hours of trial and error. Now, of course, actual "coding" meaning the design and the implementation happen in your mind, but that doesn't mean this isn't a wonderful learning tool. Although, I do find it really funny that they stream the music people are listening to. Sure, maybe it boils down to watching other people google the same stuff I would, but I still think that in the field of coal you'll find a few diamonds in the rough. This might even be a good tool for psychologists because we can clearly see the ability to concentrate on a given task with the omnipresence of the web.