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Geek Culture / What do you wish you had been told?

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Hodgey
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Posted: 14th May 2012 15:08 Edited at: 15th May 2012 10:28
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In an engineering lecture last week, we had the privilege of hearing from a guest speaker from Google, who worked as a software engineer. He presented us with responses to a question which he posted on a public forum. The question resembled "cast your minds back to your first few weeks at university/college; what do you wish you had been told?". I know there are many talented developers on these forums and would love to hear your thoughts.

Cheers

[Edit] Question rephrased: What advice would you give (about software development) to students studying to become software developers?

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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 14th May 2012 15:29 Edited at: 14th May 2012 15:31
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I wish I had been told that women love Facebook Games. They are the simplest games to write, and they all involve swapping items with other members, and annoyingly pop up on my Facebook page. When I was thinking about the female sales market it never occurred to me that such useless games could be popular. Farmville.... Farm..vile more like..

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lazerus
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Posted: 14th May 2012 18:22
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I wish i would have been told that the uni would suddenly change its mind on the course modules and make me pay for two useless units.

Portfolio; Arthiccup.com
Lazerus Reborn on Polycount and a few other places.
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nonZero
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Location: Dark Empire HQ, Otherworld, Silent Hill
Posted: 14th May 2012 21:02 Edited at: 14th May 2012 21:03
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I wish I had been told at...
Aw who am I kidding, I never went to college or uni. I passed high school though.

Long version:


Abridged version:


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Oolite
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Posted: 15th May 2012 00:33
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It'll take you 2 years to get to the modules you'll actually enjoy working on.
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Kezzla
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Location: Where beer does flow and men chunder
Posted: 15th May 2012 01:00
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Study is easier when you still live at home with your parents, don't squander that precious time.

Just because you understand something well enough to do what you want to do now does not ensure you will understand enough to do what you want to do in the future.

if you don't practice something for long enough you will completely forget it.

keep your old text books.

Sometimes I like to use words out of contents
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Hodgey
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Posted: 15th May 2012 10:27 Edited at: 15th May 2012 10:28
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It appears I've miscommunicated the context of the question, and to be fair, the context is ambiguous. What I meant was in the context of software development.

So re-phrasing the question:
What advice would you give (about software development) to students studying to become software developers?

Nonetheless, I've enjoyed the answers posted so far. Pincho, I'll have to remember that one!

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nonZero
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Posted: 15th May 2012 12:56
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Well if we're talking software, I'd say the thing I most wish I'd been told/known is "just because it's an app/feature you find useful, doesn't mean anybody else will" so in terms of marketting I think its essential to do your research. That's why I'm not a commercial entity (occasional local freelancing aside).

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Dazzag
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Posted: 15th May 2012 19:25 Edited at: 15th May 2012 19:26
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Hmm. Risk everything in your own (or with mates) business as soon as you are out of college. Or even while you are in college. I had a good old laugh when in Uni and dossed about loads. Wouldn't change it but for all the time I ploughed into my own gaming code (which didn't really come to anything) I could have used on my own business.

Right now, almost 20 years later, I wish I could risk everything and go 24/7 into my own business, but with a family, mortgage etc then it is much much safer to stay with things as they are. I earn a good salary and am in an amazing place (Cyprus). I don't think I've done bad. But then I remember the company me and my mate half heartedly tried to do just before Uni (stock control and accounts systems for pubs - think about it...). One customer (free lodgings and all the alcohol you could drink) and then we just sort of got on with our lives afterwards (after being let down by a second customer). I regret not taking that to the limit in our spare time (free drinks while selling to pubs - see we did think about it ). Plus something else I almost had done for Terry Pratchett. Ho hum, nevermind, is all in the past...

So yes, take the risk while it's just you, a potentially life threatening alcoholic habit, a half decent pr0n collection, and your parents paying the rent

Cheers

Current fave quote : Cause you like musicians and I like people with boobs.
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Pincho Paxton
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Posted: 15th May 2012 21:33
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Yeah I turned down the chance to work in-house for Activision because it meant moving to America. But I don't think I would change that.

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WLGfx
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Posted: 16th May 2012 00:30
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I'd go back and kick myself into taking up one of those three programming jobs I got offered many years ago, 2 in London and one in Oxford. I was with my first wife at the time and she refused point blank that she wasn't going to move away from her family. Instead I bounced between quite a few jobs as a graphics designer or video editor or database developer.

Mental arithmetic? Me? (That's for computers) I can't subtract a fart from a plate of beans!
Warning! May contain Nuts!
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