The non-linearity of the software path is incredibly underrated.
There are absolute "basics" I'm certain that I have blindspots towards. On the other hand, in some important areas in our field, I'm probably among the world's leading experts (which is a very weird thing to even think about).
A metaphor I've been kicking around in my head lately is that the software path is like the way an infant child learns. They sort of poke around the world with wide eyes, observing everything, touching things here and there, taking it all in, getting immersed in what it means to be human, and before they know it they're a functioning language-using walking person and can't even remember a time when they were not that way.
That's a great metaphor! I think it also quite accurately explains why it's generally really hard to teach beginner programming well. If a baby asked you how you learnt to walk from crawling you wouldn't be able to recall your experience, all you could answer with is the mechanics. Only by actually trying (and failing) multiple times will they learn.
I do Data, Design, and Marketing (and sympathize with Bartholomew Cubbins). I use code to solve problems. I'm a multidisciplinary artist who holds a phd in fine arts. I like tea.
Agreed―and it's definitely a path and not a destination.
The infant child learning process is a good metaphor. The primary difference between learning to walk and learning software is that there is generally one type of way to walk (we learn from seeing those around us do it), but the software we might come across―by happenstance or situation or random choice―is practically infinite (and always growing).
That's likely why you (and I, and all of us) don't know the absolute basics in some (or more) areas, but feel an oddly uncomfortable level of expertise in others areas. This area of expertise can be thought of warmly as a superpower, or it can be viewed in opposition to the chasm of things we don't know to bring on a wonderful case of imposter syndrome.
I'm trying to remember that I literally can't know everything and focus on learning well the tools I need to accomplish the things I want to accomplish.
The non-linearity of the software path is incredibly underrated.
There are absolute "basics" I'm certain that I have blindspots towards. On the other hand, in some important areas in our field, I'm probably among the world's leading experts (which is a very weird thing to even think about).
A metaphor I've been kicking around in my head lately is that the software path is like the way an infant child learns. They sort of poke around the world with wide eyes, observing everything, touching things here and there, taking it all in, getting immersed in what it means to be human, and before they know it they're a functioning language-using walking person and can't even remember a time when they were not that way.
"Graduate students are often disappointed to learn that their professors are human and that they don't have all the answer."
That's a great metaphor! I think it also quite accurately explains why it's generally really hard to teach beginner programming well. If a baby asked you how you learnt to walk from crawling you wouldn't be able to recall your experience, all you could answer with is the mechanics. Only by actually trying (and failing) multiple times will they learn.
Agreed―and it's definitely a path and not a destination.
The infant child learning process is a good metaphor. The primary difference between learning to walk and learning software is that there is generally one type of way to walk (we learn from seeing those around us do it), but the software we might come across―by happenstance or situation or random choice―is practically infinite (and always growing).
That's likely why you (and I, and all of us) don't know the absolute basics in some (or more) areas, but feel an oddly uncomfortable level of expertise in others areas. This area of expertise can be thought of warmly as a superpower, or it can be viewed in opposition to the chasm of things we don't know to bring on a wonderful case of imposter syndrome.
I'm trying to remember that I literally can't know everything and focus on learning well the tools I need to accomplish the things I want to accomplish.
You should check out Kathy Sierra's Making Badass Developers talk.
There are some underlying pressures to sort of know everything in this industry, and you need to remind yourself about the opposite.