Bad Programmers

Summary

The speaker discusses the dynamic nature of programming skill, emphasizing that one's ability can improve over time. They differentiate between programming languages designed for meticulous 'good programmers' and those easing the process for 'less skilled' programmers, like Go. The speaker also touches on the role of natural talent and intuition in programming, comparing it to other skills and activities. They conclude by self-identifying as a 'midwit programmer,' suggesting an intermediate level of skill and intuition.

Takeaways

• 🔧 The speaker acknowledges that there are varying levels of skill among programmers but emphasizes that one's programming ability is not fixed and can improve over time.
• 🚀 The speaker suggests that programming languages can be categorized by the level of detail and skill they require from the programmer, with some languages being more suitable for less experienced programmers.
• 🌐 The speaker highlights 'Go' as a language designed to make programming easier by managing memory and garbage collection, thus reducing the burden on the programmer.
• 💡 The concept of natural talent is introduced, with the speaker noting that some individuals possess an innate ability to excel in programming, which may not be achievable through practice alone.
• 🧠 The speaker differentiates between intelligence and wisdom, suggesting that a great programmer not only solves problems but also knows which problems to solve.
• 🎯 The speaker uses the analogy of fishing to illustrate the difference between someone who meticulously calculates the best approach and someone who intuitively knows what to do.
• 🤔 The speaker identifies themselves as a 'midwit' programmer, capable of designing and building software with a certain level of quality but not necessarily possessing exceptional intuition.
• 🛠️ The speaker mentions 'Zig' and 'Rust' as languages designed for more skilled programmers, implying that they require a higher level of understanding and control.
• 🌟 The speaker admires 'coding guys' who can learn and adapt at an extraordinary rate, suggesting that such individuals have a high skill ceiling.
• 📚 The speaker references CS Lewis, discussing the idea that 'instinct' is a term used for processes we do not fully understand, hinting at the complexity of intuitive decision-making in programming.
• 🔄 The speaker concludes by reiterating the idea that languages are designed for different types of programmers, from the smart to the less experienced, and that this design is not inherently wrong.

Q & A

What is the speaker's view on the nature of being a good or bad programmer?

The speaker believes that being a good or bad programmer is not a fixed position. They argue that a bad programmer can become a good one over time, as they did, and that it involves skill improvement rather than an inherent quality.

How does the speaker describe the design of programming languages like Formula 1?

The speaker compares programming languages to Formula 1, suggesting that they are designed for individuals who can and will care about every last detail. These languages are meant for good programmers.

What is the speaker's opinion on the programming language Go?

The speaker initially suggests that Go is designed for good programmers because it makes you think about nil and has garbage collection, but they also note that it's designed to make certain aspects of programming easy, which could be beneficial for less experienced programmers.

What does the speaker believe about the potential for a bad programmer to become a great programmer?

The speaker acknowledges that while most bad programmers can improve, there may be some who, due to lack of natural talent, will never become great programmers, similar to how they could never become an Olympic ping pong player.

How does the speaker view natural talent in programming?

The speaker believes that natural talent plays a significant role in programming. They mention 'coding guys' who can learn at an extraordinary rate, suggesting that some people have an innate ability that sets them apart.

What is the difference between intelligence and wisdom according to the speaker?

The speaker differentiates intelligence as the ability to solve a problem, while wisdom is knowing what problem to solve. They imply that a great programmer possesses both wisdom and intelligence.

What does the speaker mean by 'midwit' in the context of programming?

The speaker uses the term 'midwit' to describe someone who might understand the technical aspects of programming but lacks the intuitive understanding or 'wisdom' that a great programmer possesses.

How does the speaker compare professional fishers to programmers in terms of natural talent?

The speaker compares professional fishers who 'just know' what to do without going through a conscious analytical process to programmers who have an intuitive grasp of programming problems, suggesting that natural talent is crucial in both fields.

What is the speaker's self-assessment in terms of being a programmer?

The speaker self-identifies as more of a 'midwit programmer,' indicating that while they have the ability to design and build software effectively, they may not possess the same level of intuitive understanding as some exceptional programmers.

What does the speaker suggest about the existence of programming languages designed for people with different skill levels?

The speaker suggests that there are programming languages designed for both smart and less experienced programmers, with some languages making programming easier by handling certain complexities automatically.

Outlines

00:00

😀 The Evolution of a Programmer

This paragraph discusses the dynamic nature of programming skills, emphasizing that a 'bad' programmer can improve over time, just as the speaker once did. It challenges the notion of fixed positions in programming ability. The speaker also touches on the idea that some programming languages are designed for skilled programmers who pay attention to detail, while others, like Go, are designed to simplify tasks like memory management through garbage collection, making them accessible to a wider range of programmers. The paragraph concludes with the acknowledgment that natural talent, beyond just intelligence, plays a significant role in excelling at programming, drawing a parallel to other fields like sports or fishing where instinct and intuition are crucial.

Keywords

💡Programmer

A programmer is an individual who writes code for software applications or systems. In the video's context, the term is used to discuss varying skill levels, from 'bad' to 'good' programmers, emphasizing the potential for growth and improvement over time. The speaker mentions their own journey from being a 'less skilled programmer' to becoming better, illustrating the dynamic nature of programming skills.

💡Fixed Position

The term 'fixed position' in the script refers to the idea that one's status as a programmer is not static; rather, it can evolve. The speaker argues against the notion of being irreversibly classified as a 'bad' or 'good' programmer, suggesting that personal development and learning can lead to improvement.

💡Formula 1

Formula 1 is used metaphorically in the script to describe programming languages that are designed for meticulous and highly skilled programmers. It implies that such languages require a deep understanding and careful attention to detail, much like the precision needed in Formula 1 racing.

💡Go

Go is a programming language mentioned in the script as an example of a language designed for 'good programmers' due to its requirement to think about 'nil' values. However, it is also noted for features like garbage collection that simplify certain aspects of programming, making it more accessible to a broader range of programmers.

💡Garbage Collection

Garbage collection is a form of automatic memory management used in programming languages like Go. It refers to the process where the system automatically reclaims memory used by objects that are no longer in use. In the script, it is cited as a feature that makes programming 'easier' and contributes to a language being designed for a wider audience.

💡Natural Talent

Natural talent refers to an innate ability or skill that one is born with. In the video, the speaker suggests that while practice and learning can improve programming skills, some individuals possess an inherent aptitude for programming that sets them apart, much like the natural talent required to become an Olympic ping pong player.

💡Intelligence

Intelligence, as discussed in the script, is the capacity to learn, understand, and apply knowledge. It is distinguished from wisdom, which is the ability to make sound decisions. The speaker implies that a great programmer possesses both intelligence to solve complex problems and wisdom to know which problems to solve.

💡Wisdom

Wisdom is the deeper understanding or knowledge that allows one to make prudent judgments. In the context of the video, wisdom is portrayed as knowing what problem to solve, as opposed to intelligence, which is the ability to solve the problem itself. It is suggested that a great programmer combines both wisdom and intelligence.

💡Midwit

The term 'midwit' is used in the script to describe someone who is overly analytical and lacks the intuitive understanding or instinct that more experienced individuals might have. The speaker humorously refers to themselves as a 'midwit programmer,' indicating that while they may be analytical, they may not possess the instinctive programming abilities of a 'great programmer.'

💡Instinct

Instinct, in the video, is discussed as a form of intuition or an innate ability to make decisions without conscious reasoning. The speaker quotes C.S. Lewis, suggesting that 'instinct' is a placeholder for processes we do not fully understand. It is contrasted with the analytical approach of a 'midwit,' highlighting the difference between instinctive and analytical programming approaches.

💡Language Design

Language design refers to the intentional creation and structuring of programming languages to suit specific needs or types of programmers. The script discusses how some languages are designed for 'smart' programmers who can handle complex details, while others are designed to simplify programming for those who may not be as adept, making it more accessible.

Highlights

Bad programmers can become good programmers over time; programming skills are not fixed.

Programming languages are designed with different types of programmers in mind, like how Formula 1 is designed for skilled drivers.

Go is designed to make certain aspects of programming easier, such as memory management with garbage collection.

There may exist some programmers who can never become great, just as some people might never excel at certain activities.

Natural talent in programming is not the same as IQ; it's a mix of problem-solving ability and knowing which problems to solve.

Wisdom in programming is not just about solving problems but also about knowing which problems to tackle.

Some programmers have a higher skill ceiling and can learn at an exceptional rate, which sets them apart.

The best programmers combine wisdom and intelligence, knowing when and how to solve problems effectively.

Instinct or intuition in programming may come from internalizing complex processes that others need to deliberate on.

There are 'midwit' programmers who understand the basics but lack the instinct or intuition of top-level programmers.

Different programming languages cater to different levels of programmer skill, with some being more forgiving and others requiring deeper expertise.

Languages like Go are considered easier and designed for less experienced programmers, while languages like Rust or Zig are for more skilled programmers.

The intuition some programmers possess can make them highly effective, even if they can't always explain their process.

The concept of 'midwit' refers to programmers who may be competent but do not have the exceptional instincts of the best programmers.

Programming languages reflect the diversity of programming skills, with some making tasks easier and others demanding more from the programmer.

Transcripts

I do I do agree with that there's

obviously better programmers and worse

programmers but I would say that you

should almost slice it a different you

should slice it a different way because

I think it makes more sense because a

bad programmer can become a good

programmer right because at one point I

was a bad programmer I was a less

skilled programmer I became a better

programmer over time and so it's it's

not like a fixed position I'm really not

convinced of any sort of fixed

positioning there there there's no

hopelessness exactly they're not

hopeless but what I think makes it

probably a better way to say the same

thing is that there's languages that are

designed like Formula 1 is designed it's

designed for someone that is going to

have to care about every last detail and

has the capability to care about every

Last Detail it's designed for good

programmers and there's languages that

are designed for not as good programmers

such as go go is just which also it

shockingly is designed for good

programmers because it makes you think

about nil all the time but nonetheless

it's designed to have more Wheels you

don't have to manage memory inco it just

manages it for you it has garbage

collection it just makes life a lot

easier and so you can still be a good

programmer you can still fall under this

category it's a language designed to

make certain aspects of programming

really easy where some are designed for

other aspects to be really easy which

makes hard programming and second there

is always going to be bad programmers

and you know what there probably does

exist a bad programmer who can never

become a great programmer right I I I

can never become a a great ping pong

player even if I practiced from my very

early childhood all the way up until I

grew up I don't think I could ever

become an Olympic ping pong player no

matter how much time or effort and all

that because I'm just like I just don't

have that I don't have the second

component of becoming really great at it

which is that inborn natural talent I do

think some people just have natural

talent and they just come out easier

like I If you've ever seen some coding

guy the guy is just a freak he's just a

freak like I look up to him as a freak

comparatively to me like his skill

ceiling is way bigger than me he just

can learn things at a rate I've just

never seen in my

life it's quite wild some coding guy uh

guy is great yeah yeah Prime sucks oh

absolutely and

so is natural talent in programming

basically IQ no no no no I think it's

something more than IQ uh IQ it's it's

you know like just like wisdom and

intelligence are different

wisdom like I always like to say

intelligence is the ability to solve a

problem wisdom is knowing what problem

to solve I think that's the right thing

is I think some people just have

whatever that whatever that thing is

right the ability to not only solve hard

problems which is the smarts it's also

the ability to know when and how to

solve the thing right a great programmer

has that wisdom and has the intelligence

to back it up it's just different and

some people are just good at like like

that's why you see people that somehow

build the right product at the right

time because they just have this they

they they can tell or the person that's

just really good at fishing right

there's professional Fishers that

literally their job is to catch fish and

you have the midwit that comes in and is

like well actually the sun is shining

it's 82 degrees the sun's at this Theta

we also have this wind speed and we have

this depth of water with this murkiness

therefore I should probably either use a

or b I should probably use a streamer

and then you have this guy that's paid a

ton of money who doesn't any of that who

just walks and goes it's a streamer just

like just knows right just like there's

something like he internalizes all those

calculations and doesn't go through the

midwit process and goes I know this is

the way this is what we should do Jordan

Peter Fisher just don't don't do it

don't do this to me right like there's

just people that can just do like they

just there's something else in there

that we just don't have they internalize

at this this level that's really weird

yeah this intuition I don't know what

you call it Instinct intuition as CS

Lewis says instinct is just a a

placeholder word for process we don't

understand uh midw yes it is it is this

midwit thing so I think that I'm

probably more of a midwit programmer

than anything else I might have some

proper instincts of knowing how to

design software fast and build it in

some level of of quality that can scale

decent but it's just like I'm still also

just a midwit it's it's just funny to

say there's languages that are designed

for people who are smart and languages

who are designed for people who are dumb

because it's not wrong go is designed

for the bad programmer zigg or rust or

ji which I believe is uh Jonathan blows

one or even closure as he said is not

designed for that person and