On Sun, Apr 10, 2005 at 03:18:02PM -0700, Andrew Lentvorski wrote: > > I would also argue that there is some self-selection going on. Any > programmer who takes the time to learn a second programming language > is *by definition* part of the 10%. Any programmer who takes the > time to learn a programming language that will not necessarily > enhance their job prospects is probably even further up the skill curve.
I hate to prove the rule by being the exception, but I have pretty much given up all hope of being a good programmer, even though I have picked up several "second" languages, and none of them (including C, which dates me) was perceived as a value-add for my job at the time. I'm pretty much batting 1.000 on my complete inability to learn any programming language that is pitched to me as a good career move, including: COBOL/Fortran VB C++ Java Python OOP in general I think this is the result of a personality flaw (serious authority issues) rather than anything technical. Certainly each of those languages has excellent supporters. No, the problem is me. I was lucky that I learned what I know of both C and Perl at a time when the smart money was saying "whatta ya wanna learn those dead-end hacker languages for?" Otherwise I'd have probably blanked on them and missed a lot. The people who ask me these questions are invariably better dressed than I am and have nicer cars. <sigh> Sometimes it's not easy to be me ... OTOH, the fun I've had with C and perl way outweighs anything I've missed in clothes. -- Lan Barnes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Linux Guy, SCM Specialist 858-354-0616 -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-lpsg
