in reply to Programming and math

I think anybody who can think logically has it in her to become a good programmer, provided there is enough encouragement by her environment and enough stamina on the part of the would be programmer.

Having a good memory, some math and visualization skills, are a plus.

Being able to be consistent, is a plus.

Having had a formal CS education is a minus.

All of this of course in general: there are always exceptions to the rule.

Liz

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Re^2: Programming and math
by adrianh (Chancellor) on Aug 09, 2003 at 20:38 UTC
    Having had a formal CS education is a minus.

    I'm curious about this - since a CS education only makes a developer better in my experience.

    I'm not saying that somebody needs to have a formal CS education to be a good developer, but having it be a "minus" seems a tad strong.

    Of course the individual in question has to want to be a programmer in the first place. If they just went on a CS degree because they heard that the job pays well they're less likely to be competent :-)

    (and if anybody cares my answers to the OP are: No - but it can help. No - but it can help. Mostly no - but some are easier to learn in general than others).

[reply]
      ...Of course the individual in question has to want to be a programmer in the first place. If they just went on a CS degree because they heard that the job pays well they're less likely to be competent :-)

      It is exactly that. I've been exposed to too many "fast moving" CS students in the past years, who are only in it for the suits and the leased cars. Together with what I think is a sub-optimal, if not sub-standard, CS education in most institutions, makes me say that having had a CS education, is a minus.

      In that respect it's a good thing that the number of new CS students in the Netherlands this year, has significantly dropped. Hopefully, there'll be more students in it for love of the subject matter, than for the great salaries.

      Liz

[reply]
        I've been exposed to too many "fast moving" CS students in the past years, who are only in it for the suits and the leased cars.

        Annoying aren't they!

        That said, I still think a good developer will gain a lot from some formal CS education (assuming they don't know it already :-)

[reply]

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