|
It starts by me just keep trying to solve it. After a while I decide that maybe I should look at the documentation. It turns out it's incomplete or just not specific enough to answer my question. Then I shout over the cube wall - see if the guy on the other side knows. Or walk in my boss' office and ask him. He usually goes "Goddamn it man can't you solve anything by yourself!? I don't know why we pay you!!" Then he tells me. Usually that's that.
But sometimes he doesn't know - so he sends me to our in-office guru. The guru has programmed everything that has a microchip in it at one time or another. I don't know if he was around for the vacuum tube era - there is a good chance he was.
Sometimes the guru is not in though. Then I search online - I usually have a suspicion what the problem is - so I search - "how to make A do B". After I while I end up on Wikipedia - reading about pre-historic weapons making techniques... It's never too late to start preparing for World War 4...
|
|
|
|
|
 GOOD
|
|
|
|
|
Stuck on a problem, no internet to net nanny you? What do you do then? 
|
|
|
|
|
I don't believe I got stuck that often in a programming task before I was first exposed to the Internet in 1989. This was my first year at the University of Pittsburgh as an Engineering Student. Although in the first years there was not web browsing but gopher, ftp, telnet, news. And then there were also dial up bulletin board servers that I vaguely remember..
Hmm, I am not sure much of that solved my problems. However when I think of it back then a large programming assignment was 1 thousand to 2 thousand lines. I typically work on projects where I write 75 thousand lines (1.5 year project) and I have several dozen times written more than 1000 lines in a single day. Back then I would have turned to a book first. And programming language of choice was Borland Turbo Pascal.
John
|
|
|
|
|
Sacrifice a virgin operator on the console, hoping that my offering might appease the gods and that they would make a service call to IBM.
Software Zen: delete this;
|
|
|
|
|
There is the same quantity of a "Bacon" optional answer as of the CListCtrl. The world has changed, a new era is incoming. I have never posted CListCtrl before but in the next survey I'm gonna to <blink> fight for it.
Greetings - Jacek
|
|
|
|
|
I totally agree.
Bacon is clearly OutOfControl.*
* too much attention to something that shrivels when you want to use it . . . which is generally a bad omen.
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
... you find a match to your elusive search and it's turns out to be someone saying "We won't do your homework."  (Although I use that as a clue that it's time to switch from specific to general or hit MSDN. )
|
|
|
|
|
Heh, what's been frustrating for me is running across all of those leech sites that harvest content from Stack Overflow. So I think I need to go in the other direction from the general to the specific, i.e. search Code Project, Stack Overflow, MSDN, etc. directly instead of relying on a general google search.
|
|
|
|
|
Stanford: I think James is saying about General Information vs Getting Specific answer to the problem as given in the polls option and not about Google Search vs CP/SO etc.
Leslie Sanford wrote: search Code Project, Stack Overflow, MSDN, etc. directly instead of relying on a general google search.
I too agree with this.
*** RAJEEV ***
Founder, PageMoon (cool homepage)
www.PageMoon.com
modified on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 6:41 PM
|
|
|
|
|
The pattern is usually work on the problem fanatically until I decide to go home.
Then, when I come in in the next morning it all seems to work out.
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
Maybe you should try going home earlier?
Every man can tell how many goats or sheep he possesses, but not how many friends.
|
|
|
|
|
Actually, I almost added to the post the idea of napping at my desk.
Since it would actually improve productivity, I would naturally be expected to be well paid for the time.
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
Yeah haha I know that one!!!!
While my Code might compile, it is just Pseudocode for illustration purpose. Please use your brain when adapting it for your needs!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rating always..... WELCOME
The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
|
|
|
|
|
You all know damn well that when you are in a pinch you are looking on the net for the EXACT answer to your problem. You are not looking for some general bullshit or philosophy on you programming issue. You need answers and you need them now. You can do your code meditation later.
--
** Jack of all trades and master of none.
|
|
|
|
|
Well put. Of course I would only do that if I really want to solve the problem - otherwise I would probably go with the book, the philosphy or just space out.
|
|
|
|
|
I actually thought before answering about whether I do a general search first, but decided to be honest and admit that, 9 times out 10, I start with a cut&paste of the exact error message I'm getting! 
|
|
|
|
|
Yep. Exact answer search comes first, then usually more general search.
|
|
|
|
|
That sounds fine for error messages however How does one search for an exact answer to a design question?
John
|
|
|
|
|
John M. Drescher wrote: How does one search for an exact answer to a design question?
I'm afraid you're on your own for this one.
--
** Jack of all trades and master of none.
|
|
|
|
|
Slacker007 wrote:
I'm afraid you're on your own for this one.
And that is the reason I voted "Search online for more general background information on your issue". If it was just error messages/crash ... I would have picked "Search online for the exact answer to your problem"
John
|
|
|
|
|
I search for exact to almost exact answers for things other than errors and/or crashes. When I have to have something delivered yesterday, it sometimes is helpful if someone already found the answer...why re-invent the wheel.
I do a lot of my actual learning of new technologies and concepts at home with a cup of coffee in a relaxed atmosphere.
--
** Jack of all trades and master of none.
|
|
|
|
|
True. But I don't consider myself stuck until the search for the exact answer failed. The first thing I do ONCE I am stuck is search for general bullsh*t and don't you call me a liar!
I was HollyHooo but got tired of it and Sebastien was taken.
|
|
|
|
|
RC_Sebastien_C wrote: and don't you call me a liar!
I wouldn't think of it. 
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
