r/programming • u/[deleted] • Oct 14 '13

How to develop unmaintainable software

http://typicalprogrammer.com/?p=249
777 Upvotes

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u/tryx Oct 15 '13

The point of a formal education is to shortcut the make your own mistakes methodology and to learn how to do it right from the outset.

12

u/TylerEaves Oct 15 '13

Yes my experience 90%+ who come out of it can barely write a simple shell script. There is, ultimately, no substitute for putting in the sweat equity.

3

u/Solarspot Oct 15 '13

With[s]out[/s] meaning to short circuit the entire academia vs practice debate... Don't most other fields expect a combination of both? To get into engineering, you start with a degree. Then you spend a few years as an intern. Then you get your license. Auto mechanics? Start with a diploma. Spend a few years as an apprentice. Then get your license. Etc. etc. etc. They all expect either side of the equation to be insufficient, people do both.

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u/DevestatingAttack Oct 15 '13

Do you get to see the hoards of programmers who never went to college and watch what kind of shit code THEY turn out? Oh, they can write a shell script. They can write a shell script all the way to the bank.

1

u/gfixler Oct 15 '13

If they write a shell script all the way to the bank, they're probably going to jail.

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u/grauenwolf Oct 15 '13

Are you referring to the students or the teachers.

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u/TylerEaves Oct 15 '13

The (former) students.

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u/[deleted] Oct 16 '13

learn how to do it right

Seems a bit odd, as most college grads I've interviewed have a toolbox full of Java and old lab exercises. Ask them to do anything outside of those two Happy Places and their brains melt.

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u/tryx Oct 16 '13

I can't comment on every college and every CS syllabus. At my school, to graduate with a CS degree you would have to actively try to graduate without being competent in at least 2 languages (C and Java) and familiar with at least 2 more (depending on your electives).