I took up Advanced Storage systems at CMU. Yes the one that is taught by Garth and Greg. The class concluded with a talk by Brent Welch from Panasas. The talk was centered on his experiences around writing Quality good code. I am so ashamed to have slept through half of the class (because I was preparing for a demo to Rob Ross another cool guy from ANL late night). Friends say that I make it quite obvious when I sleep in class (head down and doze, the only saving grace is I do not snore). Hmm to the point, So Brent did talk about a lot of things which I probably did not register as I was asleep, but here are some of the bits and pieces that I registered and I felt were pretty good.
Brent made it quite obvious he was a serious programmer. I mean dead serious. I just could smell it from his talk. I think he is a dude programmer. I have met only a few dude programmers that are real dudes (YOUVRAAJ KELKAR, KIRAN JOSHI and BORISLAV MARINOV). I mean let’s face it everybody else is just about average tapping of theirs ways to glory polluting the already polluted universe of spaghetti code. Btw there is a difference in being a big mouth jibroni ass and talk about everything from Turing machine to WSDL, but a few actually do write code.
Here is what Brent said, which I quite believe in.
1. If you cannot set the tab to (4)spaces (or whatever the convention is for a project)in your code, he would think what kind of dumb ass you are. This is what I personally feel when some dumb ass tries to make a ruckus about HIS programming style and doesn't want to change it in the greater interest of the project.
2. This one is something very new very nice absolutely amazing.
Brent once asked an XYZ programmer who is fond of rewriting code (quite like me) - What is the time required to understand somebody else's code. The programmers answer was, "Time required to rewrite the code?" That is so true, given a smart programmers versified code it’s quite a task to understand his frame of mind that resulted in the code. Quite like an artist’s painting only he fully understands it.
3. Writing quality code is underestimated!
Again, so true every TOM DICK AND HARRY wants to code/pollute. Pollute Pollute Pollute and pollute more. Half of them are just not that passionate - they are just in for a good time. There are basically only 2 types of programmers ones that are passionate and the others that are not. There is not much grading criteria for you if you are not passionate. Hiring people who are not passionate can ruin a team as they bring down the morale of a great team down in more than 1 way. At times when I did have a chance to knock of people who are not passionate about the project - I personally did take delicate care to see that they are out!!!!
4. He believes that "His good is better than everybody else's code"
I buy his argument completely. I usually think the same that my piece of code is better than the rest of the shit floating in SVN/CVS land. How can 2 programmers live in harmony with such an attitude? The point is not that he/me find appreciating somebody else's code too condescending. What it means that the programmer has a lot a respect and responsibility for his code. He would take it personally if somebody passes a unfavorable comment about his code. I think this sense of responsibility and the urge to maintain once repute is what makes quality code deliverable. Its a standard you set for yourself increasing it every time when you learn the best practices of the trade.
Hmm from unfavorable comments I remember how I lambasted one of my colleagues for a frivolous comment he made. Back in old days I did work in Windows User land for Unitrends and this very cool friend of mine worked on Xiotech a kernel mode kick ass project (WTF we all know it was good). He said "Kya be tu kya chavanni ka code likhta user mode me ?" (What code worth 25 cents do you write in user land?). OK …………………… THATS IT what followed was a 1/2 hour tirade as to how dumb fcuck shit piece he, his life and his code was. The comment hit me bad, I know it when I feel it it’s that suffocating feeling that I get in my neck. He could not understand what just happened and was just dazed. ... I wasn't. If I get an opportunity again it will fcuk the shit out of him again for his comment. I mean nobody comments on what I do for a living literally. May be I have grown up now and I won't react the way i did back them, but i'm sure i would react in some way.
My rule is quite simple, your code my friend is the best …. just don't compare it with my code or comment on my code. If you are hell bent on a comparison I simply have 2 word for you "CODE IT !!!" or else talk to my hand. And for the ones who I feel are really better than me (I know its dumb to create a false illusion of being better when you know you are not) I make their praise pretty obvious !o!
P.S no one is a born dude. There is no short cut to being a dude. Except Nikola Tesla everybody follows the power law when acquiring skills.
