I have no doubt that programming is a skill that you can improve on through practice. You don't have to be talented or passionate, but you should probably be one or the other. Otherwise, what's the point? Why are you a programmer?
I like Django and Jacob Kaplan-Moss's work, but the sentiment of On his Twitter profile, he describes himself as “not a real programmer” to show that he’s had enough of these kinds of misconceptions is false humility. He's not a blowhard but it's clear he's talented. There's no point in acting like he's not. Same with the Bootstrap dev. It may have taken work to get there but to cite authors of work like that and then use them as an example of mediocrity is contradictory. If mediocrity doesn't matter, why not cite mediocre programmers? Because nobody is using their code.
Similarly, DHH is clearly passionate. There's no point in acting like he's not.
I’m not a real programmer. I throw together things until it works then I move on. The real programmers will say “Yeah it works but you’re leaking memory everywhere. Perhaps we should fix that.” I’ll just restart Apache every 10 requests.
This mindset is acceptable, but someone else has to go back and fix your mistakes. That's a disservice to yourself and others.
A lack of care and/or mediocrity shines through in finished products. Have some pride in your work. Care about your users.
> I have no doubt that programming is a skill that you can improve on through practice. You don't have to be talented or passionate, but you should probably be one or the other. Otherwise, what's the point? Why are you a programmer?
Many people cannot find jobs in fields that they are talented in or passionate about that pay well and have decent working conditions. They have to take jobs in other areas.
An ideal job for this would be one that pays well, has decent working conditions, has consistent working hours with little or no overtime, and that does not leave you mentally or physically tired after work. With such a job you have plenty of time and energy outside of working hours to pursue those things you are passionate about.
Programming could be such an ideal job. It generally pays well. It generally has decent working conditions. Plenty of programming jobs (especially those that don't need talent) have consistent hours, take little mental energy, and no physical energy.
I don't think such mindset is acceptable. It's like saying "I built this house, it holds together and can be lived in, but in winter it loses heat like crazy, owner's heating bills are huge. Also, every other week, handles fall off random doors and have to be repaired."
I like Django and Jacob Kaplan-Moss's work, but the sentiment of On his Twitter profile, he describes himself as “not a real programmer” to show that he’s had enough of these kinds of misconceptions is false humility. He's not a blowhard but it's clear he's talented. There's no point in acting like he's not. Same with the Bootstrap dev. It may have taken work to get there but to cite authors of work like that and then use them as an example of mediocrity is contradictory. If mediocrity doesn't matter, why not cite mediocre programmers? Because nobody is using their code.
Similarly, DHH is clearly passionate. There's no point in acting like he's not.
I’m not a real programmer. I throw together things until it works then I move on. The real programmers will say “Yeah it works but you’re leaking memory everywhere. Perhaps we should fix that.” I’ll just restart Apache every 10 requests.
This mindset is acceptable, but someone else has to go back and fix your mistakes. That's a disservice to yourself and others.
A lack of care and/or mediocrity shines through in finished products. Have some pride in your work. Care about your users.