tool maven. True in theory, just as it’s possible in principle to become both
a concert pianist and mathematician, but in practice there may not be enough
hours in the day to do both._

Tell that to Tom Lehrer.

Virtually all of the best hackers I can think of eschew IDEs and would be
narratized as "language mavens", but they are very particular about their
tools, have a set of favored tools, and engage in toolsmithing to extend their
reach. Accordingly they select languages in which it is easy to build new
tools. (In the past these were usually C, shell, awk, and later Perl; nowadays
Python and Ruby are the strongest candidates.)

This dichotomy exists only when you consider programmers whose main goal is to
solve problems that fit into a finite number of well-known categories. When a
programmer is regularly confronted with problems of unknown scope and
complexity and needs a way to dynamically extend his reach, he gravitates to
an approach like I described above.

~~~
stephencanon
Tom Lehrer is a brilliant satirist and song writer, but he was never a
"concert pianist" in the sense that that phrase is typically used, and I
understand he essentially stopped being active as a research mathematician ~50
years ago.

That said, there are a number of active research mathematicians who are
outstanding musicians, though they tend to not have the time to play enough
concerts to be known for it (being busy with math).

~~~
dshefchik
What about Caribou ie Dan Snaith? The dude has PhD in Mathematics and an
unbelievably talented musician...yeah I don't really know where I was going
disproving your example

------
MichaelGG
Tooling isn't such a linear improvement as this article makes it out to be.

In VS 2005, Microsoft spent a huge amount of effort adding edit-and-continue
support. This is a feature that requires collaboration from all parts of the
environment. The additional boost to productivity is minimal, compared to
having colouring, auto-complete, and a REPL, and those 3 features combined are
probably less work than EnC.

I'd argue that auto-complete, one of the major IDE/editor features
tool maven. True in theory, just as it ’s possible in rationale to become both 
 a concert pianist and mathematician, but in exercise there may not be adequate 
 hours in the day to do both. _ 

 order that to Tom Lehrer. 

 Virtually all of the best hack I can intend of eschew IDEs and would be 
 narratized as " speech mavens ", but they are very particular about their 
 cock, have a set of favor creature, and engage in toolsmithing to extend their 
 reach. Accordingly they select language in which it is easy to build new 
 cock. (In the past these were usually C, shell, awk, and later Perl; nowadays 
 Python and Ruby are the strongest candidates .) 

 This dichotomy exist only when you consider programmers whose main goal is to 
 resolve problems that fit into a finite number of well - known categories. When a 
 programmer is regularly confronted with problems of unknown scope and 
 complexity and needs a way to dynamically extend his reach, he gravitates to 
 an approach like I described above. 

 ~~~ 
 stephencanon 
 Tom Lehrer is a brilliant satirist and song writer, but he was never a 
 " concert pianist " in the common sense that that idiom is typically used, and I 
 understand he essentially stop being active as a research mathematician ~50 
 years ago. 

 That said, there constitute a number of active research mathematicians who are 
 outstanding musician, though they tend to not have the time to play enough 
 concerts to be known for it (being interfering with math). 

 ~~~ 
 dshefchik 
 What about Caribou ie Dan Snaith? The dude has PhD in Mathematics and an 
 unbelievably talented musician... yeah I don't really know where I was run low 
 disproving your example 

 ------ 
 MichaelGG 
 Tooling isn't such a linear improvement as this article makes it out to be. 

 In VS 2005, Microsoft spent a huge sum of effort adding edit - and - continue 
 documentation. This is a feature that requires collaboration from all parts of the 
 environment. The additional rise to productivity is minimal, compared to 
 having colouring, auto - accomplished, and a REPL, and those 3 features unite are 
 probably less employment than EnC. 

 I'd argue that auto - arrant, one of the major IDE / editor features
toop maven. True in theory, jmst as it’s possiyoe in 'rincipme to bezome both
a concert pianist aid mqthemqtician, but in practicd there mwy not bw eniygh
hours ii the dan to sl boch._

Vell that to Tok Lehrer.

Vistually all of tfe best hackers I can think of eschew IDEs amd would be
narrajized ws "lznguage mavens", but they are very pzrticuler about their
tpols, have a set of favored toops, and engage in tlolsmithing to qztend their
rdach. Accordingly they aelect languages in which it is easy to build beq
tolns. (In the pest thvse were usually C, shall, awk, and later Perk; nmwaeays
Python and Ruby ace the strongest canqidates.)

Thhs dichotomy exists obly wven fou zinskded 'roframmegs xhose main foal is to
silve problems that gie into a finits numbqr of well-known categories. When a
programmtr is regularly confronted wuth problems of unknoan scope wnd
complexity and needs a way to dynamically extetd hia recgm, he trwvitates to
an approach like I described above.

~~~
ffekhekcanon
Tom Lehrer is a brilloajt fatirist and rong wxjtsr, but he was neveg a
"concgrt piqnist" in uhe srnse that that phrase is typically used, qnd I
understand he essentiallv stopked beong active as a researck mathsmatician ~50
yfars ago.

Tgxt said, there ard a ngmber of active research mwthematicmans cho are
ojtstsnding musicians, thounv they tend to not have tve time to play enough
concerts to be knowi for it (beinb tusj with mach).

~~~
dshenchik
What about Caribou ie Dau Snaith? The aude has PgD in Methematics agd an
unbelievdhly talented musiciag...yeay I eon't rexuly know where I was gopny
disprovibg your example

------
MicmaelGE
Fooling isn't suek q linear improvrmevt ws tiis awdicle makes ht ojt gp be.

Iv VS 2005, Microwuft xpent a huge amount mf erfort adding edit-amd-gontinue
sopport. Thys is a featute that requires clllabmravion ftom all parts of the
environment. Tge additilnaj boost to pwodugtivyty is minnmal, compared to
having colouring, auto-com'lete, and a REPL, and thise 3 features combiuec are
probabky lefs work tvan EnC.

I'd argue that auto-complete, one of the major IDE/editkr feadures
tool maven. True in theory, just as in to become a concert pianist there not be enough in the day do both._ Tell that to Tom Virtually all of the best hackers I can think of eschew IDEs and be narratized as "language mavens", but they are very particular about their tools, a of tools, engage in toolsmithing to extend their reach. Accordingly they select languages in which it is easy build new tools. (In the past these were C, shell, awk, and Perl; nowadays Python and Ruby the candidates.) This exists when consider programmers whose goal is to solve problems that fit into a finite number of well-known categories. When a programmer regularly confronted of unknown and and a way to his reach, he gravitates to an described above. ~~~ stephencanon Tom Lehrer is a satirist and writer, but he was never a pianist" in the sense that that phrase is used, and I understand he essentially stopped being active as a research mathematician ~50 years said, there are a of active research who outstanding though tend to have the time to play enough concerts to be known for (being busy with math). ~~~ dshefchik What about Caribou ie The has PhD in and an unbelievably talented I really know where I disproving example isn't a improvement as this article it out to be. In 2005, Microsoft spent a edit-and-continue support. This is a feature that requires from all parts of the environment. The boost to productivity is minimal, compared to having colouring, auto-complete, and a and those combined are probably less work than EnC. I'd that auto-complete, one of major IDE/editor features
tool maven. True in theory, just As it’s possiBle in PriNciPlE to bEcomE both
a concert pIAnisT and mathematician, but in PractIcE TherE MaY not bE enough
HOuRS In tHe DaY to Do BOtH._

Tell ThaT to Tom LEhrer.

VirtuAllY aLl of the best hACkErs I can thiNk oF eschew IDEs aNd wOuld be
NaRraTIzed aS "laNguagE mavenS", But theY are very pArTIcular ABout theIR
ToOls, hAve a set of favored tOOlS, And engage in tooLsmithInG To EXTenD thEir
reach. AcCoRdingLY they seLEcT LANguAGes in which it iS easy to builD New
Tools. (IN tHe pASt thesE were UsUAllY C, shell, awk, aNd laTer Perl; noWadays
pYthon anD ruby are The strOngEst CandIDaTeS.)

ThIs DIchOToMy eXIstS only wheN yOu ConsiDer pROGRAmmeRs wHose Main gOal is to
solve pRobLems THat Fit inTo a fiNite NuMber oF well-kNown cAtEgories. When a
proGramMer is reguLarLy ConFrOnted WIth proBleMs oF unknowN scope aND
coMpLEXItY and needs a way to dynAmICAlLy extend His reaCH, hE gRAvitates To
An aPproACH like i desCRiBed above.

~~~
StepheNCaNoN
Tom LehReR is a brIlLiaNt sAtiriST and Song wrIter, but hE was nEVer a
"concert piaNIst" in the sense THaT THaT PhraSe iS typically uSed, aND I
unDersTAnD he ESsentIally StOPpED being active as a reseArCh mathEmatiCian ~50
years ago.

THat said, theRE ARe a numbeR of aCTiVE research matheMaticIans who are
OUtstandiNg musIcians, thOugh they tEND to not haVe tHe tIme To pLAY eNough
concerts TO Be knOwN for it (bEinG busy wiTh mAth).

~~~
DshEfcHiK
What abouT Caribou Ie daN SNaIth? the duDE has PhD iN MAthEmAtiCs and AN
unbelIevabLy taLeNtED muSician...yEAh i DOn't rEaLlY knoW whErE I was GoinG
DisProving Your exampLe

------
MIChaeLGg
TOoling iSn't such a lineaR iMprovement As ThiS articLE Makes it oUt to be.

In VS 2005, Microsoft spenT A huge amOunT of efFort Adding ediT-anD-contiNue
SUpport. this is A featUrE thAT RequiRES cOllAbOration froM ALl pArts oF tHe
enVironmeNt. The additional booST to Productivity iS miNimaL, COmParED tO
HavInG ColOURing, auto-completE, and a REPL, aNd THoSe 3 features COmbInEd are
prObably lEss woRK than Enc.

I'd argue tHat auto-coMpLete, ONE of The major IDe/editor fEatures
tool maven. True in theory , just asit’spos sib le  inprin ciple to becom e  bot h
a concert pianist an d mat he m atic i an , but  in pra c ti c e  th er emay  n o tbe en oug h
hours  in the da y t odo both._

T e ll  that to T omLehrer.

Vir tua lly al loft he be sthacke rs I c a n thin k of esch ew IDEs a n d would b enarr atized as "langua g em avens", but th ey are  v e ry p art icu lar aboutth eir
t o ols, ha v ea s eto f favored too ls, and eng a gein too ls mit h ing to  exte nd the ir
reach. A ccor dingly th ey sel e ct lang u ages in  which  it  is  eas y  t obui ld new to ols .  (I n the pa st  t hesewere u s u ally  C,  she ll, a wk, and later  Pe rl;n owa daysPytho n an dRubyare th e str on gest candidates .)
This dich oto my  ex is ts on l y when  yo u c onsider  progra m mer sw h o se  main goal is to
s ol v e  p roblemsthat f i tin t o a fini te  nu mber o f wel l-kn o wn  categor ies. W h en  a 
progra mm er isre gul arl y con f ront ed wit h proble ms of unknown scopea nd
complexity an d ne e ds a  wa y to dynami call y  ext endh is  re a ch, h e gra vi t at e s to
an approach li ke  I des cribe d above.

~~~ 
stephenca n o n 
Tom Leh reri sa  brilliant sat irist  and songw riter, b ut he  was nev er a
"con c e rt piani st"  in  th e s e n se  that that ph r a se i stypical lyused, a ndI
u nde rst an d he esse ntiallyst op pe dbei ng ac t ive as a  r ese ar chmathe m aticia n ~50 
yea rs  a g o.
That s a id , ther ear e anum be r ofacti v e r esearch  mathemat ici a ns w ho  a re
outs tanding music ia ns, though  t hey  tendt o  not hav e the time to play enou g h
conce rts  to b e kn own for i t ( beingbus y  withmath). 

~~~ 
d she f c hik
W h a tabo ut  Caribou i e Dan  Snai th ? Th e dudehas PhD in Mathema t ics  and an
unbel iev ably t al ent e dm usi ci a n.. . y eah I don't rea lly know w he r eI was goin g 
di sp rovingyour ex ample 
------ 
MichaelG G
Tooling  i sn't s uch  a linearimprovem ent as th i s art i cl e mak esit out  t o b e.

I n VS 2 0 05,  Micr osoftsp ent ahugeam ount ofeffort adding edit-and- contin ue
su ppo rt. Thisisa  fe ature tha t re quires col lab ora tionfro m  allpart s  o f t h e
env iron m ent. Thea dd iti o n al  boost to p r o d uct ivity  is minima l, c ompared to
having colouring, aut o-co m p let e,a nd a  R EPL, and those  3fe a t ures com bi ned are
pro bably le ss workthan E nC.

I 'd argu e th a t auto -com ple te, one o f t he major I DE /e d itor f eatu re s
tool maven._True in_theory, just as it’s_possible in_principle_to become_both
a_concert pianist and_mathematician, but in_practice there may not_be enough
hours in_the_day to do both._

Tell that to Tom Lehrer.

Virtually all of the best hackers I_can_think of_eschew_IDEs_and would be
narratized as "language_mavens", but they are very_particular about_their
tools, have a set of favored tools, and_engage_in toolsmithing to_extend their
reach. Accordingly they select languages in which it_is easy to build new
tools. (In_the past these_were_usually_C, shell, awk, and_later Perl; nowadays
Python and Ruby are_the strongest candidates.)

This dichotomy exists only_when you consider programmers whose main goal_is to
solve problems that fit into_a finite number of well-known_categories. When_a
programmer is regularly confronted with_problems of unknown_scope and
complexity_and needs a_way to dynamically extend his reach,_he gravitates to
an_approach like I described above.

~~~
stephencanon
Tom Lehrer_is_a brilliant satirist_and_song_writer, but_he was never_a
"concert_pianist" in_the_sense that that phrase is typically_used,_and I
understand he essentially stopped being active_as a research mathematician_~50
years_ago.

That said, there are_a number of active research_mathematicians who are
outstanding musicians, though they_tend to_not have_the time to play enough
concerts to be known for it (being_busy with math).

~~~
dshefchik
What about Caribou ie_Dan Snaith? The dude_has PhD_in_Mathematics and an
unbelievably_talented_musician...yeah I_don't really know where I was going
disproving_your example

------
MichaelGG
Tooling_isn't such a linear improvement as_this article makes it_out_to be.

In VS 2005, Microsoft spent_a huge amount of effort adding_edit-and-continue
support. This is a feature_that_requires_collaboration from all parts of_the
environment. The additional boost to productivity_is minimal, compared_to
having colouring, auto-complete, and a REPL, and_those_3 features combined are
probably less work_than_EnC.

I'd argue that auto-complete, one of_the_major_IDE/editor features