Re: [OT] A question for programmers - Inspiration

[Matthew Danish <mdanish@andrew.cmu.edu>]

On Thu, Mar 20, 2003 at 05:12:32PM -0800, deFreese, Barry wrote:
> OK, so this is going to be somewhat of an esoteric question but..  How
> did you really delve into development and what is/are your sources of
> inspiration.  I am trying to dive head first into Python/Perl?/C/C++
> and while it's easy enough to write the "Hello Worlds" and CD-catalog
> programs :-) how did you move beyond that.
> 
> For example.  I see a lot of questions on debian-user about
> configuring IP addresses, so I thought, hey I'll write a quick Python
> app to configure /etc/interfaces and /etc/resolv.conf.  Of course
> doing an apt search produces etherconf, linuxconf, and several other
> utilities for configuring interfaces.  Would you write the app anyway
> just for the experience??  How did you get from the middle ground to
> guru-dom??  Or is the answer that if I need to ask, I will never be a
> hacker!!??  :-)

I highly recommend putting aside the IP-address-configuration stuff for
the moment and consider becoming a better programmer computer-science
wise.  Get your principles down; that's more important.  If you want to
move beyond simple stuff you have to learn these things.

You can do a lot just by being curious and probing around the Internet,
but here are a few book recommendations as well:

_Paradigms of AI Programming_ by Peter Norvig
  Teaches good pragmatic programming technique using AI examples.
  (If you want AI, see _AI: A Modern Approach_)

_Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs_ by Sussman and Abelson
  This one is used by MIT, it's often recommended.  Also available
  online.

_The Mythical Man-Month_ by Frederick Brooks
  Not a programming book, but influential and interesting to read.
  Important if you are going to work in a group.

I also recommend getting a well-rounded view of computer programming
languages.  You should acquaint yourself to some degree with:

assembly language, C, Smalltalk, Self, Cecil, Ada, SML, Haskell, Forth,
APL, Mercury, and Common Lisp.

(feel free to go further)

That should keep you busy for quite a while =)

I think you'll get a lot more satisfaction out of programming as you
become more informed.

-- 
; Matthew Danish <mdanish@andrew.cmu.edu>
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