What makes a good developer?

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What makes a good developer?

Crispin Proctor

SSCoach

Points: 18161
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June 11, 2003 at 4:54 am

#80370

Is it someone that understands logic or is it purly intelligence?
Cheers,
Crispin
Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!

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Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 1

Hello Crispin,

quote:
Is it someone that understands logic or is it purly intelligence?

the above plus

self organisation
curiosity
love and understanding
great portion of humor
sarcasm
all of the above
none of the above
don't know

Now serious, I prognosticate this could be a huge thread, for it is kinda philosophical question. Let's see what happens!

Cheers,

Frank

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Crispin Proctor SSCoach Points: 18161 More actions · Answer 2

I agree with what you say.

I have met many people that are trying but do not understand.

Is it because they don't understand logic?

Select x from y where a=2

To me, that makes perfect sense but others cannot understand. I would love to view it in thier eyes. Just to see.

I would never call myself a know it all. I would never tell someone they are stupid because they don't understand. Everyday is a learning day for me. (This site most of all)

People excel in area's where I would die. 🙁

To me, someone who as you said, is curious, makes the best kind. A "want" to know how and why it worked. Not happy saying "Oh, if it works, leave it."

This is my understanding of what does and does not make a good developer...

Cheers,

Crispin

Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 3

Hello Crispin,

quote:
To me, someone who as you said, is curious, makes the best kind. A "want" to know how and why it worked. Not happy saying "Oh, if it works, leave it."

I would like to add, although curiosity is an important thing, curiosity just by itself can be desastrous, you should have a goal-oriented curiosity.

Hm, hope it becomes clear what I mean. In German its a little bit easier for me.

Cheers,

Frank

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Crispin Proctor SSCoach Points: 18161 More actions · Answer 4

I dissagree (If I understand you correctly 🙂

I have a great curiosity. If there is somethign I don't understand, I search and nag people untill I find out how/why. I know many people like this.

There is no goal here. I just want to know why.

A similar topic is when someone talks to you in english (Assuming you wqere brought up German) or you read english, do you first translate to German?

In South Africa we have many languages I speak English, Afrikaans and can understand a bit of Zulu. I argued with people about it. Some say you translate it but I do not. Not consciously atleast.

A bit off the topic but I thought it to be an interesting argument. 🙂

Cheers,

Crispin

Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!

GRN Hall of Fame Points: 3260 More actions · Answer 5

different take on the subject-

1) Good album on headphones (SOAD anyone??)

2) Mug of columbian or a cold beer(if allowed) 🙂 🙂

3) A dog -eared copy of Guru's Guide

4) Boss on vacation

Crispin Proctor SSCoach Points: 18161 More actions · Answer 6

A cold beer is only not allowed when caught.

Hint: Fill your coffee cup with beer.

When was the last time someone actually looked in your coffe cup to ensure you were drinking coffee?

Cheers,

Crispin

Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!

GRN Hall of Fame Points: 3260 More actions · Answer 7

GRN

Hall of Fame

Points: 3260

June 11, 2003 at 7:10 am

#460750

shhhh ,

you're giving it away

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 8

Hello Crispin,

quote:
I have a great curiosity. If there is somethign I don't understand, I search and nag people untill I find out how/why. I know many people like this.
There is no goal here. I just want to know why.

too much curiosity will quickly let you lose control, because when you are looking for node A. You discover node B. Follow that path. Discover node C. It could be looked at like a btree structure. Aaargh, I can't express what I mean.

quote:
A similar topic is when someone talks to you in english (Assuming you wqere brought up German) or you read english, do you first translate to German?
In South Africa we have many languages I speak English, Afrikaans and can understand a bit of Zulu. I argued with people about it. Some say you translate it but I do not. Not consciously atleast.
A bit off the topic but I thought it to be an interesting argument. 🙂

You have 12 official languages in South Africa, right?

Cheers,

Frank

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Crispin Proctor SSCoach Points: 18161 More actions · Answer 9

quote:
too much curiosity will quickly let you lose control, because when you are looking for node A. You discover node B. Follow that path. Discover node C. It could be looked at like a btree structure. Aaargh, I can't express what I mean.

You do not know how badly this hits me. It has happened over and over again.

Sometimes I do not even find the solution I was looking for.

I was wondering how SQL works behind the scenes. I never did find out but I now know the pricipals of space flight. Only kidding.

We have 11 official languages here. 11-12. Same *(&%^ differance.

If you ask me it's just a waste of paper and ink.....

quote:
It could be looked at like a btree structure

Boabab tree? Also known as an upside down tree.

Cheers,

Crispin

Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!

NPeeters SSChampion Points: 12541 More actions · Answer 10

Have to agree with Frank. Curiosity is a good thing, but it has to end somewhere.

I have seen instances where starting an investigation in problem A ended up with a solution for issue Z. Not to mention that issue Z had nothing to do with our project...

One or two things to add to being a good developer.

1. Problem solver.

Anyone can code something, but it starts to get difficult when you're debugging. Seen a lot of good coders fail completely when they encountered an issue somewhere. They either did not know how/where to start looking or they just gave up and marked the bug as 'hidden feature'...

2. Relentless, to a certain degree.

A developper should not give up when he encounters a problem. '... I will not implement this feature because it is too complex, the user will have to learn to live with that ...'.

3. Think from the user's point of view.

Try to implement all features from a user's point of view. Think about what the user will perceive as being the 'natural' way of completing a task.

Crispin Proctor SSCoach Points: 18161 More actions · Answer 11

quote:
2. Relentless, to a certain degree.

I agree with this.

When I started in IT, a friend who was teaching me was like that.

I could not, within limits, ask for help. He would guide me and then leave me.

When helping others, do you think that is the way to do it? I get a lot of junior people working with me and guide them but do not spoon feed them.

If you have a bug and you eventually find the problem, you'll be able to fix it second time round.

I would think that this type of person who can logically fault find a problem would make a great developer...

Cheers,

Crispin

Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 12

quote:
You do not know how badly this hits me. It has happened over and over again.
Sometimes I do not even find the solution I was looking for.
I was wondering how SQL works behind the scenes. I never did find out but I now know the pricipals of space flight. Only kidding.

You never know what this is good for. Consider SQL Server 2012 might be a moving objects database

quote:
Boabab tree? Also known as an upside down tree.

Boabab tree, häh??? I meant b-tree algos. Upsode down, downside up, right to left....all the same

http://www.semaphorecorp.com/btp/algo.html

Cheers,

Frank

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Frank Kalis SSC Guru Points: 111183 More actions · Answer 13

Hello NPeeters,

quote:
1. Problem solver.
Anyone can code something, but it starts to get difficult when you're debugging. Seen a lot of good coders fail completely when they encountered an issue somewhere. They either did not know how/where to start looking or they just gave up and marked the bug as 'hidden feature'...
2. Relentless, to a certain degree.
A developper should not give up when he encounters a problem. '... I will not implement this feature because it is too complex, the user will have to learn to live with that ...'.

agreed. Especially when you work for a small company with no separate kind of quality management department where you get some basic code and optimize it

quote:
3. Think from the user's point of view.
Try to implement all features from a user's point of view. Think about what the user will perceive as being the 'natural' way of completing a task.

ohoh, there is some kind of 'natural' misunderstanding between developers and users. This will go that far that they use the same words, but with different meaning .

Cheers,

Frank

--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]

Crispin Proctor SSCoach Points: 18161 More actions · Answer 14

Ahh a technical term...

This is what I meant...

I am killing myself laughing. Here people are talking technical and about SQL 2012 and I am thinking nature. LOL

Cheers,

Crispin

Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!