dtalamas24's blog

Are you born with good programmer skills or you acquire them?
By dtalamas24, 8 years ago, In English

I have heard some opinions but I still can't decide. What do you think?

 
 
 
 
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8 years ago, # |
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It is important when someone discovers you.

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8 years ago, # |
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I think you are born with this ability. Programming (in pascal) is taught at my school. After first few lessons it was clearly visible who is talented and who is hopeless. I think it is because programming in general requires good logical reasoning. Similarly, not everyone can become an artist or singer.

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    8 years ago, # ^ |
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    'After first few lessons it was clearly visible who is talented and who is hopeless.'

    It depends on teacher. When I was studing in 8-th class, my programming teacher was so cool that I didn't undersrand what cycle for is. But after lessons with an adequate teacher my results had become better.

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8 years ago, # |
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I strongly hope think there is no thing like talent xD

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8 years ago, # |
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I Think it's all about Practice !

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8 years ago, # |
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when human born he knows nothing.

but he learn everything during his life

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8 years ago, # |
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I see some people who can achieve great things with less effort than others. This is the talent, i think. But if someone can really work hard, the difference may be disappear.

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8 years ago, # |
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no one borns with good programmers skills you need to practice to be a good programmer

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8 years ago, # |
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The question surely has no simple correct answer. But I think that the best of simple answers is "result is not sum, but product of talent and efforts".

When any of the factors (either talent or efforts) is zero or very near to zero, no one can get big product (great results) by only another factor.

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8 years ago, # |
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I can say in my years teaching computer science at university, I've definitely noticed a very strong correlation between the ones who do well and the ones who go to classes and do exercises. You can even see this trend yourself by looking at the "most solved problems" charts on online judges and seeing how many people you recognise that do well in competitions.

You should read the Topcoder High School spotlight session interviews with many high rated Topcoders, there's a persistent theme of people spending many hours practicing. It's interesting to see ACRush say "it's at least 80% due to practice" and SnapDragon say "it's 90% due to practice".

Of course natural ability plays a part, but far less than you might think.

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