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GeneralRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
ScottM125-Sep-16 22:57
ScottM125-Sep-16 22:57 
GeneralRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
lopatir28-Sep-16 18:50
lopatir28-Sep-16 18:50 
GeneralRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
Jeremy Falcon29-Sep-16 5:37
professionalJeremy Falcon29-Sep-16 5:37 
GeneralRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
H.Brydon24-Sep-16 12:53
professionalH.Brydon24-Sep-16 12:53 
GeneralRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
GetReQ25-Sep-16 21:21
GetReQ25-Sep-16 21:21 
GeneralRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
TheOnlyRealTodd25-Sep-16 23:34
professionalTheOnlyRealTodd25-Sep-16 23:34 
GeneralRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
maze326-Sep-16 3:19
professionalmaze326-Sep-16 3:19 
GeneralRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
Kirk 1038982126-Sep-16 5:17
Kirk 1038982126-Sep-16 5:17 
First, reading lots of code is the RIGHT approach. Kudos. To put it into reading/writing books, I would say that someone who actually writes a (decent) book has read THOUSANDS of books first. It just makes sense.

Second, you can learn from ANY code. Even if you learn "Ouch. That's terrible". B-Movies exist. They remind us what works in good movies, and what doesn't work.

Third, consider reading the (source code for) well understood concepts. Compilers (GCC?). Compiler theory is pretty stable. the concepts of cross compilers, linkers, etc. are all well understood. Optimizers, for example, re-teach indirection (converting code to pseudo assembler, optimizing that, then generating the assembler already optimized). Allowing the optimizer to be shared!

Finally, a discussion about engineering... Most people think that engineering is about perfection. It is actually about making things Good Enough. Optimizing the 3 corners of the triangle of (Fast, Right and Cheap). You can only optimize 2 of the 3, and you agree to sacrifice the third. You can optimize only 1, and sacrifice the other 2.

I learned about this from an engineer neighbor who was designing a factory floor with equipment mounting technology. His junior engineer was calculating the EXACT bolt sizes required based on the machine and the other variables. He made him go back and find the Most Common Denominator to reduce installation issues and mistakes.

In words developers can understand. I have a compiler to sell you. It's NEW warnings are guaranteed to reduce the number of bugs by 10% in your code. It costs $1 Million per seat. Interested?

I hope not!

So, keep reading code.
Then find useful code, like Notpad++, and work on compiling it and testing it.
Then find a list of bugs for that Product and start fixing them and testing your solutions.
You should quickly learn a couple of things. Like having a set of automated tests makes you feel safer to make changes and know if you actually broke something.
I would finish it off with. BREAK the software. Find what tests fail, and how. It's insightful!

GeneralRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
kdmote26-Sep-16 5:55
kdmote26-Sep-16 5:55 
AnswerRe: Finding Well-Written Software Pin
gggustafson26-Sep-16 6:38
mvagggustafson26-Sep-16 6:38 
GeneralMS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
patbob23-Sep-16 13:20
patbob23-Sep-16 13:20 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
Ravi Bhavnani23-Sep-16 13:25
professionalRavi Bhavnani23-Sep-16 13:25 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
Henry Skoglund23-Sep-16 19:55
Henry Skoglund23-Sep-16 19:55 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
RossMW23-Sep-16 14:36
professionalRossMW23-Sep-16 14:36 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
patbob23-Sep-16 14:39
patbob23-Sep-16 14:39 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
Joe Woodbury23-Sep-16 14:50
professionalJoe Woodbury23-Sep-16 14:50 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
Patrice T23-Sep-16 15:17
mvePatrice T23-Sep-16 15:17 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
Mark_Wallace23-Sep-16 21:13
Mark_Wallace23-Sep-16 21:13 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
patbob26-Sep-16 5:33
patbob26-Sep-16 5:33 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
CDP180223-Sep-16 22:20
CDP180223-Sep-16 22:20 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
patbob26-Sep-16 5:35
patbob26-Sep-16 5:35 
GeneralRe: MS: 1, Laptop battery: 0 => reversion to 8.1 Pin
CDP180226-Sep-16 6:05
CDP180226-Sep-16 6:05 
JokeThought of the Weak Pin
MacSpudster23-Sep-16 10:40
professionalMacSpudster23-Sep-16 10:40 
GeneralIt's time for the Friday, why I hate Microsoft rant... Pin
charlieg23-Sep-16 10:05
charlieg23-Sep-16 10:05 
RantRe: It's time for the Friday, why I hate Microsoft rant... Pin
Clifford Nelson23-Sep-16 11:25
Clifford Nelson23-Sep-16 11:25 

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