They showed programmers code with a blatant syntax error and watched their brain activity to see if they got annoyed. Results? They did, in fact, get annoyed.
The brain-response-based assessments in the article are cool but I find this a more compelling point:
>We believe that this is an important distinction to make when it comes **to learning programming languages**. In the current experiment, when considering natural language learning as a model for understanding how programming languages are learned, our focus is on the explicitly taught and learned aspects of natural language. **Specifically, we argue that learning to code might resemble instructed (as opposed to immersed) second language (L2) learning.**
This finding indicates that learning a new programming language would be more effective when it is done via instruction rather than by immersion...
Anecdotally, I've been having to learn a bit of Julia for a thing I'm doing, and documentation and tutorials for the language have been a hell of a lot more useful than just trying to work out what the code is trying to say, so that seems to check out
Yes, you do need some form of example to start… but instruction alone provides very little retention. It’s practice and tinkering where the real insights occur. Especially brand new coders.. but also experienced coders with new languages.
That kind of makes sense, because it's difficult to learn "good" code in most programming languages purely through osmosis. Because like 80%+ of production code is shit for teaching idiomatic best practices ("do as I say, not as I do" - every programmer who has shipped one or more products).
It's akin to someone wanting to learn English, but if the student was surrounded by a bunch of people who talk like [Brad Pitt from Snatch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGDO-9hfaiI). In that instance, instructed learning would be far more productive.
I feel lucky that my self learning was focused on translating intent / steps into code. My highschool teacher said I produced some of the most convoluted code she had ever seen.
i noticed it it says computer programmers and not software engineers.
to the outside world programmers are "computer programmers" and not engineers lol (which is the truth anyway). i think it is really only in the software tech field where programmers are refered to as "engineers".
We solved the interview process. Just hook us up to a monitor and show us code and pick the person whose brain responded most correctly to the right things.
You are underestimating people's ability to find loopholes.
People don't "cheat" on brain scans because there is not much incentive. If this becomes a target I'm sure people will discover dumb things like:
"If you eat loads of carrots before the test the machine reads lower numbers"
Or who knows what else...
I mean like, ya? Isn't that obvious?
If I show someone a page from a book written in Cantonese and they understand Cantonese I'm gonna assume their brain processes that differently than mine because I know precisely 0 Cantonese.
This study sounds like it just points out the obvious.
Science is about experimentation and observation to PROVE theories. Just saying "well that's obvious" isn't a good reason not to carry out experiments. You phrased your comment as if it was some kinda gotcha.
Well ya that's kinda the point I'm making.
If you showed me a page of Cantonese with tons of errors and issues I could not tell the difference, my brain processes it all the same.
But someone who does is going to have a lot of specific neurons firing in there brain that don't in mine because they understand what's wrong.
This is not unique to programmers or code. Unique brain responses have also been measured in musicians when a musical pattern is broken (i.e., Mary Had a Little Lamb, but one note is out of tune).
I’ve purchased a full stack developer java course. I’d like to ask you what pc should i look for and the accessories (like second monitor and good chair…). Any other advices are well taken since i’m just starting my journey into developing. Thanks in advance to all.
Weird place to ask. When you're just learning, it doesn't matter. Buy any mid-market computer. 2 monitors is better than 1 but not required. You might upgrade hardware in the future if you decide to specialize in something like AI or high end graphics
Try not to overthink it. If you make this a career there will be plenty of time for that later.
Whatever you have will be fine to start and you'll learn as you to what kind of hardware you'll grow into. I recommend C# if you're looking for a language. You can start very basic and simple and work in any type of project, frontend and backend.
Modern IDEs can make developing on remote computers pretty seamless. So by the time you're ready for anything that might need something beyond a basic laptop (GPU programming etc) you can just rent one of those online for < $1/hr.
Unless you want to code games, but you probably won't be doing that in Java.
It literally doesn't matter. Go to Best Buy and buy a random Dell laptop or something. It's kind of like asking "should I buy a Ferrari to learn to drive?" Nope and most people don't need a Ferrari. Get a Toyota Corolla. The only thing I'd recommend paying attention to is the RAM. 16GB or more and you'll be fine. I use my laptop for all kinds of programming (especially full stack stuff) and I have 32GB. It's more than I need
As a programmer myself, this doesn't surprise me. Our brains may not function the same way as others when it comes to deciphering code. It's both a blessing and a curse!
62 Comments
Uberhipster@reddit
igoro00@reddit
Uberhipster@reddit
Extra_Progress_7449@reddit
LoopVariant@reddit
le_birb@reddit
gwicksted@reddit
QuickQuirk@reddit
ByteArrayInputStream@reddit
QuickQuirk@reddit
ByteArrayInputStream@reddit
vanhellion@reddit
TomWithTime@reddit
Coffee_Crisis@reddit
No-System-240@reddit
Ethesen@reddit
orbit_fire@reddit
Zardotab@reddit
BeautifulSynch@reddit
Crazy_Firefly@reddit
Bornee35@reddit
SittingWave@reddit
draculamilktoast@reddit
1RedOne@reddit
bwatsnet@reddit
Coffee_Crisis@reddit
Individual-Praline20@reddit
PMzyox@reddit
DoitfortheLulz-@reddit
DontOpenNewTabs@reddit
SaltKhan@reddit
Dongslinger420@reddit
_Ilya-_-@reddit
cmpthepirate@reddit
imnotbis@reddit
Saturnalliia@reddit
ps1horror@reddit
Saturnalliia@reddit
imnotbis@reddit
Saturnalliia@reddit
Omnipresent_Walrus@reddit
radboss92@reddit
robby_arctor@reddit
Surrogard@reddit
Lone_Gladiator@reddit
Neurotrace@reddit
Lone_Gladiator@reddit
Monstot@reddit
toastjam@reddit
Neurotrace@reddit
Wave_Walnut@reddit
shiny0metal0ass@reddit
Chii@reddit
mastermindxs@reddit
knowledgebass@reddit
tough-dance@reddit
rudster@reddit
TheRNGuy@reddit
zoechi@reddit
daidoji70@reddit
zazzersmel@reddit
sambarbygoingn94@reddit