There seems to be a law of instant returns, with respect to learning programming.

There seems to be a law of instant returns, with respect to learning programming.

The problem shapes the solution.

The problem shapes the solution.

"The code reads likes poetry and runs like the wind."

"The code reads likes poetry and runs like the wind."

-Anonymous

"I've done a lot of testing since LiveJournal. Once I started working with other people especially. And once I realized that code I write never fucking goes away and I'm going to be a maintainer for life."

"I've done a lot of testing since LiveJournal. Once I started working with other people especially. And once I realized that code I write never fucking goes away and I'm going to be a maintainer for life."

-Brad Fitzpatrick

"I tend not to buy into religions, any religions, whole hog. Whether it's object-oriented programming or functional programming or Christianity or Judaism-- I mine them for good ideas but I don't practice them in toto."

"I tend not to buy into religions, any religions, whole hog. Whether it's object-oriented programming or functional programming or Christianity or Judaism-- I mine them for good ideas but I don't practice them in toto."

-Joshua Bloch

"I think the lack of reusability comes in object-oriented languages, not in functional languages. Because the problem with object-oriented languages is they've got all this implicit environment that they carry around with them. You wanted a banana but what you got was a gorilla holding the banana and the entire jungle."

"I think the lack of reusability comes in object-oriented languages, not in functional languages. Because the problem with object-oriented languages is they've got all this implicit environment that they carry around with them. You wanted a banana but what you got was a gorilla holding the banana and the entire jungle."

-Joe Armstrong

Learning something new is like acquiring a new power.

Learning something new is like acquiring a new power.

One of the most satisfying things about programming is getting a machine to do your work for you.

One of the most satisfying things about programming is getting a machine to do your work for you.

"You know it's everybody's sin; you've got to lose before you know how to win."

"You know it's everybody's sin; you've got to lose before you know how to win."

-Aerosmith

"Achieving perfection is almost impossible – since no matter how much time you spend on a project, as soon as you test the concept on a real life user or prospect, they’ll surprise you with completely unanticipated feedback."

"Achieving perfection is almost impossible – since no matter how much time you spend on a project, as soon as you test the concept on a real life user or prospect, they’ll surprise you with completely unanticipated feedback."

-Kevin Mireless

"... where you end up is typically way different from where you start and the only way you get there is to find out what doesn’t work."

"... where you end up is typically way different from where you start and the only way you get there is to find out what doesn’t work."

-Kevin Mireless

"All the things you do come back to you."

"All the things you do come back to you."

-Aerosmith

A Word of Wisdom

Investing in learning a better way is almost always a net win.

A Word of Wisdom

Programming is a lot like playing a video game.

A Word of Wisdom

Interfaces are the saving grace of OO-style programming.

A Word of Wisdom

Programming is about finding the right abstraction.