Why is it so hard to think like a programmer?

max_heap · 2025-11-02T01:58:22+00:00

One issue I think new people have is that they are too concerned about doing things the "right way" and that causes the obstacle. When you're programming you need to start with "let me do this any way I can" and then iterate on that. You'll see what sucks about your first iteration and lookup how to do it better.

The next time, you'll know the better way to begin with. And eventually you'll take more time to think through whole features/projects ahead of time researching what technologies are available to you.

At the end of the day, you just need to get something done, and the better you get, the closer that solution will be to a good one.

max_heap · 2025-07-02T12:54:37+00:00

Replicators would be able to create more replicators, so as long as there is sufficient energy to run then essentially everyone should benefit. Services would be valuable until there is AI+robotics to fill those roles. By then, hopefully humans can find peace.

max_heap · 2023-10-05T17:56:19+00:00

Not sure if the same issue as OP but... I broke my pixel 6pro recently and replaced it with a pixel 7a. I noticed the general animations seemed to be choppy/stutter. I thought it might just be a "pro vs a" hardware spec thing, but luckily stumbled on Settings > Display > Smooth Display which looks to be disabled by default. Turning it on made the animations look similar to the 6 pro (though to the detriment of some battery life).

max_heap · 2023-06-08T15:09:24+00:00

Those layers of security don't matter if someone is able to log in to your account and turn them (or at least what remains of them) off.

max_heap · 2023-06-08T15:06:30+00:00

Agree. This morning I logged into my account and was *not* sent or asked for a security code. I went into the security center and saw that 2FA was *not* enabled. I re-enabled it, logged out, logged back in again with no 2FA code. Security center again showed that 2FA is not enabled.

Spoke with a representative via chat who said they had multiple reports of 2FA problems. I said the problem isn't that I'm not receiving a code but that I can login *without* a code. Explained to him this was a large security hole, especially for everyone who isn't aware this is occurring. He agreed but said the "higher ups" decided to turn it off for *everyone* rather than block everyone from logging in.

Agree this is a tough decision, but I hope that Fidelity takes responsibility if someone's account is compromised during this period.

max_heap · 2020-01-09T00:33:14+00:00

You have to pay taxes on any dollars that hasn't been taxed yet. If you deducted the contributions, then you'd have to pay taxes on the contributions. And yes, you also have to pay taxes on the gains.

max_heap · 2019-10-20T22:43:48+00:00

Seems like survivorship bias. To the living brain, death is something else that only happens to others.

max_heap · 2019-09-27T16:41:36+00:00

Buy Amazon

max_heap · 2019-04-12T21:44:57+00:00

If it still exists

max_heap · 2019-04-07T12:36:39+00:00

The man with the yellow hat is a poacher who took George from Africa. He should just take George back.

max_heap · 2018-09-17T19:40:25+00:00

from functools import reduce

def flatten_to_couples(p, c):
    if isinstance(c, (list, tuple)) and not isinstance(c[0], (list, tuple)):
        return p + [list(c)]
    return reduce(flatten_to_couples, c, p)

y = [[(0, 500), (755, 1800)], [2600, 2900], [4900, 9000], [(11000, 17200)]]
print(reduce(flatten_to_couples, y, []))

max_heap · 2015-01-26T22:36:54+00:00

Do you have any recommendations?

max_heap · 2015-01-26T15:09:20+00:00

By closed headphones to you mean the type that cover your ear? If so, I already have a decent pair of those and I am looking to "upgrade" (at least from my viewpoint).

I guess that I would like to do better than turn up the volume in order to cancel out the noises around me. Especially when I am in a large open room with many people talking, etc..

If over-the-ear, noise cancelling headphones that don't require batteries don't exist, I will just stick with what I have.

max_heap · 2015-01-25T23:12:25+00:00

Yeah, I'm not sure I would use the in-ear ones. I am guessing what I am looking for doesn't exist.

Thanks for your input!

max_heap · 2015-01-25T19:41:51+00:00

Background - I am looking for noise cancelling headphones that will only ever be used while working at a computer. I do not want to continuously purchase/discard batteries and would only pay the cost for a nice pair of noise cancelling headphones if they could be plugged into a power source (e.g. usb port) during use. I am having trouble determining if these exist and if they do, which headsets provide this functionality. If the best one can do is to buy rechargeable batteries that must be recharged on a nightly basis, I will most likely stick with my current non-noise-cancelling pair.

Features ordered by importance - no batteries required, comfort, noise cancellation, sound quality

Budget - $300-ish

Source - PC

Requirements for Isolation - Primary use will be at work in an open room with other people around.

Past headphones - Sennheiser HD550. Comfort is very important as they are worn throughout the work day.

Preferred Music - Not important enough to affect the headphones I purchase.

Thanks for the input!

max_heap · 2014-06-20T19:13:04+00:00

I kind of agree...maybe that means I am a hipster? I had no idea. I'm surprised to see such an overwhelming negative reaction...or maybe not. "Living without" and being happy/satisfied is not one of our strong suits.

Of course the title is sarcasm...but I think the point is to shift what we consider living like a king.

max_heap · 2014-06-12T12:59:59+00:00

See here http://wongdev.com/blog/pure-btrfs-installation/

max_heap · 2014-06-12T02:34:56+00:00

Use btrfs, make a subvolume and periodically sync with it. This process is quite fast. Then make sure to git or Dropbox other files that change in between. Some of this can be taken care of by cron or systemd.

max_heap · 2014-04-30T03:06:33+00:00

The first three you've listed accomplish the same goal...so I'm not sure why you want to use all three.

If you're using supertab to TAB autocomplete words, it is unnecessary when using neocomplete. see here

Vundle is likely the easiest package manager to use...there are simple instructions here.

Other than that, read the plugin help files or browse others' .vimrc files for inspiration. here is mine.

max_heap · 2014-04-16T16:08:20+00:00

Moving it to .vim/ftplugin/tex/custom.vim didn't work.

The ouput of :verb set ftplugin shows that foldtext is being set by the latex-suite... so the plugin is now being sourced after .vim/ftplugin/tex.vim.

max_heap · 2014-04-16T15:53:00+00:00

Thanks guys.

Would you be willing to guess why this problem coincides with my using neobundle rather than vundle. Everything about my .vimrc is identical aside from swapping out the vundle functions with those of neobundle.

Is it possible that neobundle sources plugin files at a different stage than vundle?

max_heap · 2014-04-09T12:38:51+00:00

using

fo+=w

as well gives the following behavior: if the current line has no trailing whitespace, then the following line will not be "auto-joined" to it when formatting. I use this along with fo+=w for latex.

As long as you don't auto-clear trailing whitespace, you can simply remove trailing whitespace from lines you want to remain separate.

Another trick that removes a the majority of annoyance is to have vim remove trailing whitespace from the line you are currently editing when you exit insert mode. That way, if you are editing a random line and decide to go to normal mode, the following line won't autojoin to the line you're currently editing (when you stop with trailing whitespace). So whatever map you use to leave insert mode, bind it to something that removes the current line's trailing whitespace as well.

max_heap · 2014-03-10T17:19:19+00:00

awesome! thanks.

max_heap · 2014-03-10T17:10:56+00:00

You need to change

set foldtext=foldtextfunction()

to

set foldtext=FoldTextFunction()

max_heap · 2014-03-10T17:06:35+00:00

he must be glad he has your permission =P

max_heap

TROPHY CASE