[TUHS] really Pottering vs UNIX

[scj@yaccman.com (Steve Johnson)]

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More to do with a sense for quality. Often developed through
experience
 (but not just that). I think what we need is a guild system for
 programmers/engineers. Being an apprentice of a master craftsman is
 essential for learning this "good taste" as you call it.

I guess I'm not so totally against guilds per se.  Since I believe
that programming (at least is a profession) is a service industry, I
think that doesn't come naturally to a lot of otherwise bright people
(including, I might add, me).  Back when I was writing FORTRAN, I was
working for a guy with very high standards who read my code and got me
to comment or, more usually, rewrite all the obscure things I did.
 He made the point that a good program never dies, and many people
will read it and modify it and try to understand it, and it's almost a
professional duty to make sure that you make this as easy as possible
for them.  

Maybe a guild is a bit too stuffy, but being mentored by someone with
their head screwed on straight, and consequently making a point to
seek out excellent examples of the programming art and learn from them
had a profound effect on my skill as a programmer and my career.

I don't think I would have found this in a book or long midnight hours
hacking away...

Steve


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