Re: Test for potential programmer

On Thu, 2009-12-03 at 12:51 +1100, Daniel Pittman wrote:
...
> Pro tip: asking me "vi or emacs" in an interview makes you look like an ass,
> and is a very poor way to convince me that you are someone I want to work
> with.  This generalizes reasonable well. :)

Correct answer is what makes me efficient.  Vi vs Emacs is useful to
weed out total zealots.  Others are KDE vs Gnome or MS Windows vs Linux.

> > Ask them what they do at night.  Reading is good they will have to do a
> > lot,  computers web page development.  If they mention something eg web
> > page ask them what html stands for and name some tags and write down how
> > to use them.  Shows a willingness to go deeper than glossy tools.
> 
> Truth be told, I have worked with enough excellent developers who this really
> was only a day job for that I would not trust this too far.
> 
> It might be useful information, but I think it would be unwise to assume that
> "spends all free time on computers" is good, or "spends no free time on
> computers" is bad automatically.  :)

It is an indicator about being able to hit the books, reading fiction is
a reasonable indicator as well.  Just the general habit of reading in
this business is a good one.  I worked out I was about 20% true
programming rest was investigation.  I am a maintenance programmer
though.

I must admit to entering the 9-5 programming regime now.  Must be
getting old.

Ken

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