Specialise or Generalise

[vetran]

Mr C has been learning about C and he loves it (the last time he coded was in Fortran).

But vetran says, the time he's spent on most is looking for the right problem to solve with it.

C/++ is probably most general use language out there it will run on anything. Understanding how C works will allow you to use other languages easily. C# is very popular with outsourcers though.

The problems should just come to him at work but he may not be looking out for them. If you do it more than once and it takes any length of time consider automating it. If other people will want consistent changes on the output or need it consistent then consider automating it.

I recently completed a project where we exchanged thousands of assets with another firm, right from the start I automated the csv files and document image extracts, there were 50 odd csv files each with thousands of lines each , the other party changed their mind on the contents of files repeatedly over 18 months. I changed the extract routine for the changes as needed. We also did the same with importing. These both just worked.

The ones where both the businesses had decided to do it manually required lots of rework and turned the go live from pressing buttons to hours frantically struggling in excel, I went out for a walk for hours at a time.

On my own I exported far more data by volume & records than anyone on our side and probably on their side, there was a team of 3 as my opposite number.

Why do I sound cocky about this? Because I told them this would happen up front and we should automate all of it.
My part was seamless so it must have been easy.
Their manual part was making stuff difficult for themselves, guess who got the glory? I did however miss out on the stress!

I intend for the next project coming up to be fully automated with QA,UAT and sign offs because it will be 10-15 times the scope and probably 100+ times the size for data.

With automation I always ask myself - how long will it take to automate , what benefits will I get and when do I get a ROI?

You will be surprised how often it makes sense to automate. The great thing about automation is you can do multiple prototypes and get signed approval reducing risk to the business.

If he is just looking to learn the language then probably get involved in FOSS. That way he can support a project he loves and work with probably some of the best (and worst) coders in the world.

Read Steve McConnell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Complete it helped me structure my attitude to code.

Jeff Attwood & Joel Spolsky of stackexchange fame blogs are great resources. Speed as a feature - genius.

Anyone with other suggestions welcome.

[Whorty]

I've specialised in blue eyed blondes

[Gibbon]

Seems I've attracted a blue eyed blonde who often appreciates themselves now just need to work on the gender!

[Whorty]

Seems I've attracted a blue eyed blonde who often appreciates themselves now just need to work on the gender!

You need to be more precise with your requirements

[vetran]

Seems I've attracted a blue eyed blonde who often appreciates themselves now just need to work on the gender!

[BR14]

I'm a general specialist, specifically in general.

[northernladuk]

As a contractor, you should be a general know-it-all and specialise in arrogance, aloofness and immodest sneering.

At last!! I've hit the top of my career!!!!

[northernladuk]

Seems I've attracted a blue eyed blonde who often appreciates themselves now just need to work on the gender!

Racist.

[vetran]

Racist.

Nope


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Francis_White

Of mixed race with African and European ancestry on both sides, White had features showing the latter. He emphasized in his autobiography, A Man Called White (p. 3): "I am a Negro. My skin is white, my eyes are blue, my hair is blond. The traits of my race are nowhere visible upon me." Of his 32 great-great-great-grandparents, only five were black, and the other 27 were white. All members of his immediate family had fair skin, and his mother, Madeline, was also blue-eyed and blond.^[

one wonders if its a nod to him in Breaking Bad or just a coincidence.

[ladymuck]

Racist.

Interesting point, even though I know you were just trolling, is it racist / fattist / genderist to have a preference as to what you find attractive?

Should I be concerned that I could be considered homophobic because I prefer 'quality time' with a male rather than female?