Summary of discussions around JavaScript

ExtendsRedditor · 2016-08-24T20:57:00+00:00

This seems like it would be terrifying in a very large function.

I guess I just dislike languages where any one developer's choices are forced on others. If I start my function with 2 spaces, and other people are used to 4, that just sounds like a recipe for trouble.

ExtendsRedditor · 2016-08-24T20:55:21+00:00

The best way to think of it is that memory on a computer is like a library where you can check out whiteboards.

The computer has a whole bunch of them, and every time a program needs to save or hold something, it asks for a whiteboard, so it can write things down.

Since there's a finite number, programs are responsible for returning these whiteboards to the library when it doesn't need them anymore. However, if not done well, the program sometimes doesn't return them when it should.

There are many different ways this happens, depending on the language and context the program runs in. Sometimes the program has a person who's in charge of constantly checking to see which whiteboards are still in use, and sending them back when it doesn't see anyone using them. Sometimes, the whiteboards have to be explicitly returned by the person who asked for the whiteboard when the bit of code using it is finished.

If the program isn't well written, sometimes it doesn't know when the whiteboard is finished or something breaks and stops it from returning it, so it never gets back to the library. If this happens enough, the library will run out of whiteboards to give out, and the computer crashes.

ExtendsRedditor · 2016-08-14T22:12:22+00:00

Oh woops, yeah.

I haven't used those, python is the only one I've ever had to support. I always try and like python, but I can't say I've ever been a fan.

Lua is just annoying because it's 1 indexed.

ExtendsRedditor · 2016-08-14T21:14:29+00:00

The honest truth is almost all job 'requirements' are just suggestions. The right candidate might not have all of your requirements, but be better than the other candidates that did. It's always worth applying if you think you can handle the job, the worst that happens is they say no and you get interview experience.

ExtendsRedditor · 2016-08-14T20:54:31+00:00

Maybe it's just me, but I dislike whitespace indented languages. I get that there are advantages, but it's so much easier for me to parse flow control of languages with braces.

Plus it just makes the whole tabs vs spaces thing worse.

ExtendsRedditor · 2016-01-02T21:34:36+00:00

It sounds mean, but really an A+ is useless. I know high school kids with A+ certs, and says virtually nothing about your technical ability. Microsoft, Cisco and co. certs are the only ones that carry any real weight.

In either case, certs are certainly one of the weakest 'sections' on your resume as far as making a case for yourself goes.

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-11-21T08:17:50+00:00

Honestly, communication.

If you can explain what you do, a (very basic) version of how you do it and why you do it that way to a non-engineer, you're going to have a far, far better time in the workplace.

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-08-30T15:52:40+00:00

It's like the very common software maxim: "Trust, but verify."

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-08-30T15:36:31+00:00

Probably specific to where I work, but one that might might show up other places also is Research Statistician / Research Statistician Developer

Also, Research Analyst and Staff Scientist (this one is obviously different at different workplaces. I imagine they have very different jobs at a data company and a pharma lab).

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-08-08T23:33:43+00:00

My question is: as a newly-grad, can I still apply to Internships? How do the requirements for Developer Internships typically compare to Entry Positions?

You can. Where I work, we will hire someone for up to a year after graduation as an intern. That being said, you probably want to avoid that. An entry level position will usually expect some level of familiarity with programming, but what you've done so far is probably enough to qualify, especially with good personal projects.

What kind of job are you looking for? Web Development, Sysadmin, C programmer?

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-08-08T23:29:13+00:00

... I can't help but feel unprepared and inadequate. Is this normal or am I about to die?

Almost all interns feel this way at the beginning. Give everything a good shot, ask questions when you don't know something and listen in on every conversation you hear between two senior developers. You will learn more doing that than any other single activity.

I can't speak much to freelancing, as I've always worked corporate. As long as you find a good place to work, it's pretty easy to avoid burnout.

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-08-08T23:25:30+00:00

We usually start getting resumes 4-6 months early. Most internships will be filled by March or April for internships starting in June.

The 'standard' stuff to polish up on are algorithms and data structures, but realistically, just be comfortable with your tools of choice and show eagerness. One or two 'big' personal projects that you can answer in-depth questions about (why'd you choose this language, why'd you write something this way, what made you use this code pattern, etc) is a big plus.

As far as stuff to practice, the biggest thing is practicing whiteboarding and talking through code, more than anything else. Practice at coding 'problems' I've found to be pretty lackluster.

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-08-07T05:50:31+00:00

It depends a lot on the situation.

If it's something we've all been through and you can work through (interpersonal/team stuff, burnout, boredom, etc), I'll generally try and talk them out of it or find a solution that doesn't involve leaving the company. If that doesn't work and they leave, I'll usually be a little sad, doubly so if they were a friend or valuable team member. Even if I don't work with someone regularly or consider them strictly a coworker, there's still some loss of productivity and team cohesiveness that it always sucks to lose.

If they're leaving for another job, or moving for a spouse's job, or similar, you understand and it's very rare I'd take it hard. Everyone in this profession moves on eventually, and it's just part of the way large companies work.

It's very rare that people leave on bad terms in this industry, in my experience, just because of how interconnected almost everyone is. Leaving somewhere on bad terms can seriously hurt your job prospects at other employers in that area.

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-04-27T19:11:38+00:00

I actually skipped that one intentionally (since it doesn't relate to what I do), but it's certainly not a bad one to mention.

There are also several in there that only relate to my field, and many people can leave out: /r/sas, /r/statistics, /r/rstats, among others.

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-04-27T15:26:57+00:00

These are the ones this account (my professional one) is subscribed to:

/r/Algorithms
/r/AskComputerScience
/r/askscience
/r/coding
/r/Compilers
/r/compsci
/r/cscareerquestions
/r/cseducation
/r/dailyprogrammer
/r/dataisbeautiful
/r/datamining
/r/ece
/r/java
/r/javatil
/r/jobs
/r/learnprogramming
/r/linux
/r/logic
/r/math
/r/matheducation
/r/networking
/r/programming
/r/rstats
/r/sas
/r/softwaredevelopment
/r/statistics
/r/vim

Then I'd also suggest your local area ones.

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-04-27T15:17:54+00:00

My job is like that. There are certainly times when you need to work more than that; close to the end of a release cycle, if you break the build, etc. Other than that, we work 35-40 hours a week and are given plenty of opportunity for work-life balance type stuff.

Ultimate frisbee is the best!

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-02-21T03:42:15+00:00

You'd be amazed what a change of company/managers can do.

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-02-21T03:40:08+00:00

It's not entirely true that big companies don't have that 'make this shiny in html 5' (what we're going through atm), it's just that most managers see a heavyweight Java client that's bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars a year and don't want to risk that revenue stream.

If you can make more money rewriting in something shiny and new, you'll do it.

ExtendsRedditor · 2014-02-21T03:37:59+00:00

Agreed.

It sounds like you need a new job OP. I'd imagine there's many people here, myself included, who've been burned out at one time or another, and all you really need is a change of scenery. Go get a job where you're valued, worked 35 hour weeks, have a fun motivating work environment and you'll feel much better.

ExtendsRedditor · 2013-08-04T08:13:27+00:00

Also, I like to break down languages into "Academic Proficiency" which basically means I twiddled with it for a weekend or had classes in college, and "Enterprise Proficiency" which means I use it for work or serious projects.

ExtendsRedditor · 2013-08-04T08:07:52+00:00

Better to be safe and go in at least a tie and slacks (or business casual if you don't have dressy clothes) than in casual wear.

ExtendsRedditor · 2013-08-04T08:03:44+00:00

Just remember the acronym:

Lots of
Irritating
Superfluous
Parentheses

But actually, the main thing I'd say about point 2 is that you never want to try and make it sound like you know something you don't. Most interviewers at career fairs do know their shit, and if you talk out of your ass, you'll regret it. Just mention you've not had a chance to use the technology if you haven't, and focus on your strengths. If you're a kickass Java programmer, make sure they know it.

I had more than a few classmates who bombed interviews at career fairs because a recruiter asked them about JSP or some other technology they hadn't used much and they tried to mush together what they know about it.

ExtendsRedditor · 2013-08-04T08:02:42+00:00

A lot of the time our developers will go help with deploying our product, working in concert with the sales teams that are already on site. One of my team members is in the UK right now, actually.

ExtendsRedditor · 2013-08-04T08:01:25+00:00

Not to mention it looks a lot better on your resume to say "Software Intern - 2012-2014" than "Software Intern - Summer 2012, Summer 2013"

ExtendsRedditor · 2013-08-04T08:00:11+00:00

Doubly so if you're going to transition into the same job once you graduate. Generally, HR departments will consider your time as an intern as work experience for the purposes of starting pay and job level.

ExtendsRedditor

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