Zen of Computer Programming

[Peter M. Brigham, MD]

I think this comes from neuropsych research, and the proposition is that it takes 10,000 hours to master a field, whether music, math, coding, painting, gymnastics, whatever -- because that's how long it takes to rewire the brain in a fundamental way. 10,000 hours is 5 years full time work, 40h/week, 50 weeks a year.

Genius -- that takes something extra, maybe a brain that's genetically suited to your field, plus something more mysterious.... There's a fascinating book by a guy name Doidge, called The Brain That Changes Itself, well worth reading. Nobody knows about what makes genius, though.

-- Peter

Peter M. Brigham
pmbrig at gmail.com
http://home.comcast.net/~pmbrig


On Jan 9, 2012, at 8:48 PM, Pete wrote:

> I've read a statistic in various places that it takes 10,000 hours of
> practice to become a genius in some skill or other, always assuming you
> have the skill in the first place of course.
> Pete
> 
> On Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 5:06 PM, Alejandro Tejada <capellan2000 at gmail.com>wrote:
> 
>> Hi All,
>> 
>> Many thoughful comments and funny replies!
>> Thanks a lot for sharing your insights.
>> 
>> So it is completely possible that exists
>> programmers with skills like Mozart, who
>> according to his biographers, could
>> create a whole composition in his mind
>> and then, sit down to transcript it.
>> 
>> Then... a requisite for this "gift" should be
>> an extensive and intensive practical
>> experience in the programming language.
>> And, at least, Ten years or more of daily practice...
>> 
>> Al
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> View this message in context:
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>> Sent from the Revolution - User mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Pete
> Molly's Revenge <http://www.mollysrevenge.com>
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