“If you wish to be a writer, write.”
Epictetus delivered this burn over 1900 years ago.
Yeah but I feel like there’s a million books been written since that time which point out how vapid this quote is. To write one must know what you want to say and how to convey it, do you really think it’s better to just dive into a task unprepared and muddle through rather than learn first the structure and ideals behind such work?
I would say both. You need to learn by trying things out, making your own mistakes and finding a style. Then you get input from the outside world on why some peculiar structure make sense or just giving helpful tips. Then you try out more, apply those tips and see what works for you. But you can read as much helpful input as you want, it won’t be any good without you trying to apply it and practice.
At the end of the day, both are required. You need to study to be effective at what you’re doing, but at the end of the day the only way words get on paper is writing. You’ll also get more out of learning these structures and ideals trying to apply them after you have a bit of time just floundering, getting a feel for the actual task.
Is that actually a burn? It depends on the context.
It’s the same thing whenever I hear somebody say “I wish I could draw like that.” You probably can, but it would take hundreds of hours of practice. Of course, people wish that there was some shortcut, so that they could get the skill without all the work.
Pick a language. Keep it simple. Make something.
Bonus points if it’s something very simple that you’ll use.
Tic tac toe. Fizzbuzz. A score pad for a game. Something that can theoretically be done in an hour (if you were an expert).
I’m clicking my mouse as fast as I can but nothing is happening.
How many clicks until my awesome app is finished?
There lies your problem, ditch mouse use vim(neovim if want to impress the ladies).
vims that thing were you type emoticons everywhere right? :q :w :e
It’s 2024 we only use emojis now 😎
I agree Emacs is agreat OS, but sadly it doesn’t have any good text editor.
The mistake is clicking it, and not speaking to it. Try “hello computer”.
Classic result of a business man in charge of a software company.
LPT: work for a company where the decision maker comes from an engineering background, not a business background.
You’re welcome.
