Learning to program is like learning to draw, you can read all the books you want, but until your pick up the pencil and practice practice practice you can do it.
Use books for reference, but don't rely on their tutorials to teach you how to code -- you need to learn how to create, not just follow the steps in a book. We learn by doing.
Think of a project, start building it. When you get 25% of the way through you will think of a better way to do it. Refactor or start over. When you get 50% through you will think of a better way to do it. Throw half of it out and re-write it.
Get a job where there's lots of little problems to solve, as the senior guys lots of questions, write lots of code, make lots of mistakes, erase the mistakes and re-write it.
You will get headaches, your stomach will hurt, and it will be incredibly stressful. Don't worry about all this, it just means you're learning.
Eventually (give it five to eight years) the world of design patterns will make a *lot* of sense to you -- you will stop thinking in objects and will start thinking in interfaces and patterns.
At this point you will feel bored and will consider getting into some kind of senior/architectural/management position, but you'll still want to spend your days coding instead of talking to suits in meetings all day long.
You will dream about starting your own software company, but you will not do it because you are being well paid, you get free coffee and soda, and you probably have a wife and house to pay for.
You may start a small "shareware" project as a creative outlet, but you will likely never make a finished product out of it.
Machine over man, Spock?
It was impressive.
It might even be practical.
Practical, Captain?
Perhaps...
but not desirable.
Computers make excellent and efficient servants,
but I have no wish to serve under them.
Captain...
the starship also runs on loyalty...
to one man,
and nothing can replace it or him.
Thanks for the great points and plot ideas, I agree with you completely.
Something that always bothered me was how Kenobi (in Jedi, I think) tells Luke about Anakin was already a great pilot when they met ("the best star pilot in the galaxy") -- that even then he detected that the force was very strong in him. Yet, in Phantom Anakin is a child, not a star pilot, and here comes Qui-Gon discovering Anakin and setting out to train him. Very incoherent.
Here's my plot idea for Ep 1: Qui-Gon's death at the hands of Darth Maul happens at the beginning of Ep 1. Kenobi gets angry (dark side!) and sets out for vengence on Maul (remember Ben telling Yoda he was reckless, "so was I, if you remember") thus providing us with the thrust of the movie's plot -- while tracking down Maul he encounters a 16-year old Anakin (maybe in much the same way they encountered Han Solo in IV?). Anakin is already a bad-ass talented star-pilot (think young John Connor in Terminator 2). Ben killing Maul would happen at the end of Phantom and, in the process, Ben realizes how dangerous the dark side really is. Ben sets out to train Anakin himself.
Email me (boxlight _at_ gmail.com), if you like my ideas we should combine our plot ideas into a full story break-down.
Free software is good, I use it all the time. It enables me to be more productive as a programmer, and it's great to learn from too.
However, I one day dream of owning and operating a successful software company so I understand the value of a closed source proprietary application. I'm no defender of Microsoft, but they're in the business of *selling* proprietary software -- I totally understand why they are not open sourcing their stuff.
The way I see it, Google wants to own the multi-billion dollar TV ad revenue market. And Apple is on the verve of owning the way TV is distributed from the internet to the living room.
Google + Apple is natch.
Additionally, Google has been long-rumored to want a "Google PC" -- if I was google I would OEM Mac hardware and ship it with "mom friendly" software that just does email, photos&tv, and web browsing software clients that only run full screen.
Linux guy: who the hell cares, why is slashdot now the marketing arm of Apple? Ubuntu is more popular than Mac OS X anyway
Mac guy yesterday: why do you need a Core 2 Duo? Mac hardware is better that Dell and more expensive because it's better better better
Mac guy today: I've been waiting for months for Apple to release the Core 2 Duo, finally now I can buy the MacBook of my dreams -- the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro is the BEST COMPUTER EVER, EVER!
Yes, that's right. I'm from Bizarro World. I think LOTR, THOMAS CROWN and T3 are good movies. I'm SICK!
T3 was an HIGHLY overrated piece of shit.
T3 was a very consistent continuance of the T movies, it was well-paced, it featured a great villain, a compelling hero, and was filled with spectacular, plausible, well choreographed action sequences. (That summer everyone was talking about the car chase in MATRIX2, but T3's chase was much better.) T3 also had a very clever plot. *SPOILER* I loved the "Skynet is the internet" ending.
The only thing I didn't like about T3 was the casting of John Conner (where was Colin Farrel when you need him?).
T3 was good, and didn't do so hot at the box office. Hence, it was UNDER-rated.
This sounds like cool news. These would be three movies I'd like to see. After seeing King Kong, I'd love to see Peter Jackson bring Bwaug to the screen in THE HOBBIT.
TERMINATOR 3 was a kick ass very under-rated movie. TERMINATOR 4 -- awesome!
THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR was a smart, compelling little thriller, and probably the best movie Brosnan's ever made. Beauty.
Finally sounds like they're making good movies again.
This is an interesting idea. My favorite bits from the later Star Trek series were the times they showed the original enterprise in re-done FX -- the DS9 "tribbles" episode, the "mirror universe" episodes of ENTERPRISE.
I love the original series as is, but this would be a neat reason to re-watch them.
Mod parent up! I'm from Ottawa and I'm very happy that the investigation was so thorough. The liberal media in Canada makes it seem like Canada is ignoring the terrorist elements in the world. I'm glad to hear the cops are on top of things.
I'm no network admin, but all I know is since I switched to Mac I have no Norton or Symantec software running and there's no signs of threats anywhere.
boxlight
I'm a big Mac fan -- *love* my iMac. But I'm not sure about Leopard. That is, Time Machine and Spaces looks neat. But not neat enough for me to shell out $150 for an upgrade.
Tiger is awesome, those new feature all-in-all are pretty minor improvements.
Now, if Jobs' TOP SECRET stuff is impressive, that may make a difference. But so far, I'm not seeing enough in Leopard for me to open my wallet.
Come on -- what's the TOP SECRET stuff? Where's built-in virtualization, or Apple's own implementation of Win32? Or the Tivo-like Front Row features?
And Leopard isn't available until Spring 2007?? Sigh.
I love my Mac, but after all the HYPE surrounding this WWDC -- this is a big disappointment. Maybe I should just avoid the Apple rumors sites from now on?
That's weird, my (uninformed) perception was that Amazon had solidified it's place as the king of of the hill and was doing exceedingly well.
Funny how you don't really know who is really succeeding until you look at the bottom line.
Is it possible that the big web 1.0 succeess like Amazon and Ebay might be toppled by some as yet unidentified jauggernaut the way Microsoft toppled WordPerfect and Lotus123 back in the day?
Apple not only has a stranglehold on the music player market, they have insane product loyalty, and they own the elusive "cool factor" with the iPod brand.
At this stage, for Microsoft to try and get into this market comes across as desperate and pathetic. Microsoft can't use Windows as leverage in this proposition -- like they could when they killed the well-rooted Wordperfect, Lotus123, and later Netscape -- so the only way Microsoft can make a dent here is for them to do something extremely innovative. That's simply not Microsoft's M.O.
This time next year: MS "Zune" is a distant memory, and iPod/iTunes owns 85% of the online movie rental/download business, and Apple has begun to make serious inroads in the "home media center" market.
I bought XP in 2001 and had 5 mostly good years with it. But it was time to move to something better -- and I'm so happy I switch to Mac.
OS X Tiger is awesome and already has everything and more than what Microsoft is promising in Vista. And with Leopard right around the corner, I'm sure I'll get a few more neat features Windows might have 3 or 4 years from now.
The best thing that Microsoft could do for itself is spin-out their products into separate spin off companies.
Windows, Inc.
Office, Inc.
MSN, Inc.
Visual Studio, Inc.
XBox, Inc.
The smaller companies would be more nimble and would have to be more competative. They'd be better performers as they wouldn't have the mother organization as a cruch.
I like downloading Battlestar Galactica as much as the next guy, but sites like Pirate Bay are almost exclusively used to enable distribution of illegal videos and pirated software.
Judging by the screen shots, Vista certainly looks better -- but I hesitate to give Microsoft any respect for that as they've basically (once again) derived a look and feel from Mac. This time it's specifically derived from the glossy back Mac has been using here-and-there in Tiger and in their marketing material since the release of the black iPod Nano.
Still -- it does look better, I'll begrudgingly admit.
But that being said, Microsoft continues to neglect the more important although subtle useability aspects of their UI. They still insist on using huge amounts of real-estate for insignificant information. They continue to overuse pop-ups and tool-tips as band-aid solutions to problems conveying system information.
Since Microsoft has no qualms blantantly copying others' features, I don't understand why they continue to settle for a second rate implementations.
GIF, JPG, and PNG do everything I need -- why a new image format?
My second reaction is:
Ok, I'm innovative, so maybe there is a good reason for a new image format. Maybe I'll read more. But then I re-read it's from Microsoft and it's got called Windows in it's name, and I think I've got enough MS and Win in my life -- I really don't want more.
Apple needs to find new markets for iPod. This one cannot work. It's just too stupid. Putting a Nano on an arm band is too inconvenient, but sticking in your shoe is? Gimme a break.
Where's that good ol Apple innovation we love so much.
Slashdot Mirror
What, are you kidding me? The intel iMac and MacBook are far and away the best new products of the year.
Learning to program is like learning to draw, you can read all the books you want, but until your pick up the pencil and practice practice practice you can do it.
Use books for reference, but don't rely on their tutorials to teach you how to code -- you need to learn how to create, not just follow the steps in a book. We learn by doing.
Think of a project, start building it. When you get 25% of the way through you will think of a better way to do it. Refactor or start over. When you get 50% through you will think of a better way to do it. Throw half of it out and re-write it.
Get a job where there's lots of little problems to solve, as the senior guys lots of questions, write lots of code, make lots of mistakes, erase the mistakes and re-write it.
You will get headaches, your stomach will hurt, and it will be incredibly stressful. Don't worry about all this, it just means you're learning.
Eventually (give it five to eight years) the world of design patterns will make a *lot* of sense to you -- you will stop thinking in objects and will start thinking in interfaces and patterns.
At this point you will feel bored and will consider getting into some kind of senior/architectural/management position, but you'll still want to spend your days coding instead of talking to suits in meetings all day long.
You will dream about starting your own software company, but you will not do it because you are being well paid, you get free coffee and soda, and you probably have a wife and house to pay for.
You may start a small "shareware" project as a creative outlet, but you will likely never make a finished product out of it.
Hope this helps!
boxlight
Machine over man, Spock? ... ... ...
It was impressive.
It might even be practical.
Practical, Captain?
Perhaps
but not desirable.
Computers make excellent and efficient servants,
but I have no wish to serve under them.
Captain
the starship also runs on loyalty
to one man,
and nothing can replace it or him.
Thanks for the great points and plot ideas, I agree with you completely.
Something that always bothered me was how Kenobi (in Jedi, I think) tells Luke about Anakin was already a great pilot when they met ("the best star pilot in the galaxy") -- that even then he detected that the force was very strong in him. Yet, in Phantom Anakin is a child, not a star pilot, and here comes Qui-Gon discovering Anakin and setting out to train him. Very incoherent.
Here's my plot idea for Ep 1: Qui-Gon's death at the hands of Darth Maul happens at the beginning of Ep 1. Kenobi gets angry (dark side!) and sets out for vengence on Maul (remember Ben telling Yoda he was reckless, "so was I, if you remember") thus providing us with the thrust of the movie's plot -- while tracking down Maul he encounters a 16-year old Anakin (maybe in much the same way they encountered Han Solo in IV?). Anakin is already a bad-ass talented star-pilot (think young John Connor in Terminator 2). Ben killing Maul would happen at the end of Phantom and, in the process, Ben realizes how dangerous the dark side really is. Ben sets out to train Anakin himself.
Email me (boxlight _at_ gmail.com), if you like my ideas we should combine our plot ideas into a full story break-down.
boxlight
However, I one day dream of owning and operating a successful software company so I understand the value of a closed source proprietary application. I'm no defender of Microsoft, but they're in the business of *selling* proprietary software -- I totally understand why they are not open sourcing their stuff.
boxlight
Google + Apple is natch.
Additionally, Google has been long-rumored to want a "Google PC" -- if I was google I would OEM Mac hardware and ship it with "mom friendly" software that just does email, photos&tv, and web browsing software clients that only run full screen.
boxlight
Mac guy yesterday: why do you need a Core 2 Duo? Mac hardware is better that Dell and more expensive because it's better better better
Mac guy today: I've been waiting for months for Apple to release the Core 2 Duo, finally now I can buy the MacBook of my dreams -- the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro is the BEST COMPUTER EVER, EVER!
Windows guy: huh?
Yes, that's right. I'm from Bizarro World. I think LOTR, THOMAS CROWN and T3 are good movies. I'm SICK!
T3 was an HIGHLY overrated piece of shit.
T3 was a very consistent continuance of the T movies, it was well-paced, it featured a great villain, a compelling hero, and was filled with spectacular, plausible, well choreographed action sequences. (That summer everyone was talking about the car chase in MATRIX2, but T3's chase was much better.) T3 also had a very clever plot. *SPOILER* I loved the "Skynet is the internet" ending.
The only thing I didn't like about T3 was the casting of John Conner (where was Colin Farrel when you need him?).
T3 was good, and didn't do so hot at the box office. Hence, it was UNDER-rated.
boxlight
That's *SMAUG* -- damn keyboard.
boxlight
TERMINATOR 3 was a kick ass very under-rated movie. TERMINATOR 4 -- awesome!
THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR was a smart, compelling little thriller, and probably the best movie Brosnan's ever made. Beauty.
Finally sounds like they're making good movies again.
boxlight
This is an interesting idea. My favorite bits from the later Star Trek series were the times they showed the original enterprise in re-done FX -- the DS9 "tribbles" episode, the "mirror universe" episodes of ENTERPRISE.
I love the original series as is, but this would be a neat reason to re-watch them.
boxlight
> Don't you mean the conservative media?
No. USA has a conservative-leaning media.
Canada has a far left liberal-leaning media.
boxlight
Mod parent up! I'm from Ottawa and I'm very happy that the investigation was so thorough. The liberal media in Canada makes it seem like Canada is ignoring the terrorist elements in the world. I'm glad to hear the cops are on top of things.
boxlight
I'm no network admin, but all I know is since I switched to Mac I have no Norton or Symantec software running and there's no signs of threats anywhere. boxlight
I'm a big Mac fan -- *love* my iMac. But I'm not sure about Leopard. That is, Time Machine and Spaces looks neat. But not neat enough for me to shell out $150 for an upgrade.
Tiger is awesome, those new feature all-in-all are pretty minor improvements.
Now, if Jobs' TOP SECRET stuff is impressive, that may make a difference. But so far, I'm not seeing enough in Leopard for me to open my wallet.
boxlight
Come on -- what's the TOP SECRET stuff? Where's built-in virtualization, or Apple's own implementation of Win32? Or the Tivo-like Front Row features?
And Leopard isn't available until Spring 2007?? Sigh.
I love my Mac, but after all the HYPE surrounding this WWDC -- this is a big disappointment. Maybe I should just avoid the Apple rumors sites from now on?
boxlight
That's weird, my (uninformed) perception was that Amazon had solidified it's place as the king of of the hill and was doing exceedingly well.
Funny how you don't really know who is really succeeding until you look at the bottom line.
Is it possible that the big web 1.0 succeess like Amazon and Ebay might be toppled by some as yet unidentified jauggernaut the way Microsoft toppled WordPerfect and Lotus123 back in the day?
boxlight
Apple not only has a stranglehold on the music player market, they have insane product loyalty, and they own the elusive "cool factor" with the iPod brand.
At this stage, for Microsoft to try and get into this market comes across as desperate and pathetic. Microsoft can't use Windows as leverage in this proposition -- like they could when they killed the well-rooted Wordperfect, Lotus123, and later Netscape -- so the only way Microsoft can make a dent here is for them to do something extremely innovative. That's simply not Microsoft's M.O.
This time next year: MS "Zune" is a distant memory, and iPod/iTunes owns 85% of the online movie rental/download business, and Apple has begun to make serious inroads in the "home media center" market.
boxlight
LOL!, Mod that guy up! That posting is hilarious.
boxlight
I bought XP in 2001 and had 5 mostly good years with it. But it was time to move to something better -- and I'm so happy I switch to Mac.
OS X Tiger is awesome and already has everything and more than what Microsoft is promising in Vista. And with Leopard right around the corner, I'm sure I'll get a few more neat features Windows might have 3 or 4 years from now.
Go Apple! Goodbye Microsoft.
boxlight
Windows, Inc.
Office, Inc.
MSN, Inc.
Visual Studio, Inc.
XBox, Inc.
The smaller companies would be more nimble and would have to be more competative. They'd be better performers as they wouldn't have the mother organization as a cruch.
boxlight
I like downloading Battlestar Galactica as much as the next guy, but sites like Pirate Bay are almost exclusively used to enable distribution of illegal videos and pirated software.
Let's face it, it's illegal and they got caught.
boxlight
Judging by the screen shots, Vista certainly looks better -- but I hesitate to give Microsoft any respect for that as they've basically (once again) derived a look and feel from Mac. This time it's specifically derived from the glossy back Mac has been using here-and-there in Tiger and in their marketing material since the release of the black iPod Nano.
Still -- it does look better, I'll begrudgingly admit.
But that being said, Microsoft continues to neglect the more important although subtle useability aspects of their UI. They still insist on using huge amounts of real-estate for insignificant information. They continue to overuse pop-ups and tool-tips as band-aid solutions to problems conveying system information.
Since Microsoft has no qualms blantantly copying others' features, I don't understand why they continue to settle for a second rate implementations.
boxlight
My first reaction is:
GIF, JPG, and PNG do everything I need -- why a new image format?
My second reaction is:
Ok, I'm innovative, so maybe there is a good reason for a new image format. Maybe I'll read more. But then I re-read it's from Microsoft and it's got called Windows in it's name, and I think I've got enough MS and Win in my life -- I really don't want more.
Conclusion: No thanks.
boxlight
Apple needs to find new markets for iPod. This one cannot work. It's just too stupid. Putting a Nano on an arm band is too inconvenient, but sticking in your shoe is? Gimme a break.
Where's that good ol Apple innovation we love so much.
boxlight