Subj : Re: Are programmers like this in the real world?
To   : comp.programming
From : Scott Moore
Date : Mon Jul 25 2005 02:18 pm

Mike Deeth wrote:
> Hi,
> 
>      I've been coding for over a decade in all sorts of languages, as a
> hobby.  My career is mathematics.  As such I was obligated to take an
> intro programming class.  "Well" I said to myself, "let's get this over
> with, it's the last 'nonsense' course needed for the degree so from
> here on out it'll be all upper division and graduate math classes.
> Anyway, I'll probably learn some new stuff!"
> 

Are all mathematicians as whining and critical in the real world?

The problem was prime number sieves, which you would probably have a
better than average knowledge of, being a mathematician.

There is programming, and there is programming. Our job description
in the 1960's and 1970's was to improve the tools for computers so that
it didn't take a compiler and operating system genius to get a business
application to work.

We succeeded. Now there is much better productivity and less need for
top level experts to do mundane programming work. If you say "any idiot
can program", it's because we made it possible.

Yea us. Thanks for the complement.

.