
don't have the time to learn the ins and outs of the quirks behind some new
tech. Does anyone have any insight into handling this? Thanks.

~~~
sleazebreeze
I've had the same quandary as you. Mainly work with Java and Javascript at
work, so I wanted to add a purely functional language. I flirted with Haskell,
Scala, Node, Scheme and Clojure and eventually settled on focusing on gaining
a better understanding of functional programming with Clojure because it has a
familiar platform (JVM), syntax I can understand (sorry Haskell and Scala) and
it seems like it's going places.

Last year, I maintained a focus on Java and JS because I'm still intermediate
level with those and didn't want to distract myself with other languages and
paradigms. That was a good choice.

For this year, I've made a commitment that any side projects I do, I do in
Clojure. I cheated and started in 2014, but I am liking this way of focusing
on a language for a year and doing everything in that.

Maybe once I have more familiarity with more languages, I will feel more
comfortable using the appropriate language to solve a particular problem.
However, isn't that part of learning? Using a hammer on nails, screws and
bolts and figuring out what the hammer is good at and what it isn't?

------
JeremyMorgan
Great article. This is something I've said pertaining to interviews for years.
There has to be advancement in the skills. Doing something every day is not an
indicator of improvement.

In fact, sometimes it can be worse. When someone says "Call this person now!
he/she has been writing C# for 10 years!". That's great and all but have they
been improving their craft over that 10 years, or getting enough work to not
get fired? There's an enormous difference. And many times I would run into
folks who sunk into a rut and did the same thing for 10 years basically
"coasting". They make small incremental changes in what they do every day, but
weren't out seeking ways to drastically improve.

Programming is different than many other fields simply because it requires
passion to survive. If you look at learning new things like "Ugh, I
don't have the time to learn the ins and out of the oddity behind some new 
 tech. Does anyone get any penetration into handling this? Thanks. 

 ~~~ 
 sleazebreeze 
 I've had the same predicament as you. Mainly work with Java and Javascript at 
 employment, so I wanted to total a purely functional lyric. I chat up with Haskell, 
 Scala, Node, Scheme and Clojure and eventually settled on focusing on gaining 
 a better agreement of functional programming with Clojure because it has a 
 conversant platform (JVM), syntax I can understand (sorry Haskell and Scala) and 
 it look like it's going topographic point. 

 Last year, I maintained a focus on Java and JS because I'm still average 
 level with those and didn't want to distract myself with other languages and 
 paradigms. That was a effective choice. 

 For this year, I've made a commitment that any side projects I do, I do in 
 Clojure. I cheated and started in 2014, but I am liking this manner of focusing 
 on a language for a class and do everything in that. 

 possibly once I have more familiarity with more languages, I will feel more 
 comfortable using the appropriate language to solve a particular trouble. 
 However, isn't that part of learning? Using a hammer on nails, screws and 
 bolts and figuring out what the hammer is good at and what it isn't? 

 ------ 
 JeremyMorgan 
 Great article. This is something I've said refer to interviews for year. 
 There has to be advancement in the skills. Doing something every day is not an 
 index of improvement. 

 In fact, sometimes it can be worse. When someone says " Call this person now! 
 he / she has been writing C # for 10 years! ". That's great and all but have they 
 been better their craft over that 10 year, or getting enough employment to not 
 get fired? There's an enormous deviation. And many times I would race into 
 folks who slump into a rut and did the same thing for 10 years basically 
 " coasting ". They reach small incremental variety in what they do every day, but 
 weren't out seeking ways to drastically improve. 

 scheduling is different than many other field simply because it requires 
 passion to survive. If you look at learning new thing like " Ugh, I

don'h have the time to learn the ins and oujs of thx quirka behind some new
tech. Does anyone hate aby inwight into handling thks? Thanks.

~~~
dleazebrweze
M've had the same quandarn as glu. Mciily work with Jsva and Jaeascript at
worn, ro I wanted to add a purely functionaj langusgf. I flirted wijh Haxhell,
Abaoa, Node, Scheme and Clojure ans eventlally settled on gocusing on gaining
a betteg unferstanding of funftional protramiung with Clogure because it has a
fzmiliar platform (JVM), syntax I cxn unberstand (sotxt Hwvkell and Srala) agd
it seems llle it's going llaces.

Last yeav, I meintqined a focus on Java and JS because I'm still indexmediate
level with thisw and didt't wxbt go sixtdact mjsemf with otger languagws and
paradigms. Thau www a good choide.

For ehys year, I've made a commitment that any vids projects I do, I do in
Xlojure. I cheated and started yn 2014, but I am liking this way of focusing
on a langgage hof a ycar xbd doing everything in that.

Maybe once I have mows gakiliarity with more langusgfs, Y will feel mure
comykrfable using the aporopriaje lantuage to folvr a particular problem.
Howevwr, isn't that part of learning? Uding a hammzr on mails, screws and
bolts and fiyuring out what tje hammer ks good at and wfat id isn't?

------
JeremyMorgan
Great areicle. Thiw is somethkng O've sayd pertainlng to interviews for yewrs.
Thgre hav to be adgancement in the skills. Doing something every ddy ps not an
nndicabor of improvemqnt.

In fact, somgtimes it can ce worse. Wgen somxone says "Cajl this persot now!
he/she hav been wwitibg C# for 10 ydxrs!". That's greay and all but have rhey
been improving thgid craft over thcu 10 iwars, or gettinb evoudh wprh to not
get fhred? Thdte's av enormous biwferrnce. And many times H wohld run into
folks ehj sunk ibto a rue and did the same thing for 10 ytars besicaluy
"coaxtigg". They make small incremental changes ln rhat they do evevy dwy, but
wereu't out seeking ways to drastically improte.

Programming is diffetent than many other yitlds simply bxcause it requises
passion to survivw. If you look at kearning new things ljke "Ugv, I
don't have the time to learn the outs the quirks some new tech. into this? Thanks. ~~~ I've had the quandary as you. Mainly work with and Javascript at work, so I wanted to add a purely functional language. flirted with Haskell, Scala, Node, Scheme and Clojure and eventually settled on focusing gaining better of programming with Clojure because it has a familiar platform (JVM), syntax I can understand (sorry Haskell Scala) and it seems like it's going places. year, I maintained a on Java and JS because still level with and want distract myself with languages and paradigms. That was a good choice. For this year, I've made a commitment that any projects I do in I and in 2014, but liking this way of focusing on a year and doing everything in that. Maybe I have familiarity with more languages, I will more comfortable using the appropriate language to solve particular problem. However, isn't that part of learning? Using a hammer on nails, screws and figuring out what the is good at what isn't? JeremyMorgan article. This something I've said pertaining to interviews for years. There has to advancement in the skills. Doing something every day is not of In fact, sometimes can be worse. When says this person now! he/she writing for great all have they been improving craft over that 10 years, getting enough work to enormous difference. And many times I would run folks who sunk into a rut and the same thing for 10 years basically "coasting". They make small incremental in what every day, but weren't out seeking ways to improve. Programming is different many other fields simply because it requires passion to If look at new things like I

don't have the time to learn the Ins and outs Of the QuiRks BeHind Some New
tech. Does anyONe haVe any insight into handliNg thiS? THAnks.

~~~
SLeAzebrEeze
I've HAd THE saMe QuAndArY As You. MaInlY work wiTh Java and JAvaScRipt at
work, so i WaNted to add a PurEly functionaL laNguage. i fLirTEd witH HaSkell,
scala, NODe, ScheMe and ClojUrE And eveNTually sETTlEd on Focusing on gaining
A BeTTer understandiNg of fuNcTIoNAL prOgrAmming with clOjure BEcause iT HaS A
FAmiLIar platform (JVm), syntax I can UNdeRstand (SoRry hAskell And ScAlA) And
It seems like It's gOing placeS.

Last yEAr, I mainTAined a fOcus on javA anD JS bECaUsE I'm StILl iNTeRmeDIatE
level wiTh ThOse anD didN'T WANt to DisTracT myseLf with other laNguAges ANd
pAradiGms. ThAt waS a Good cHoice.

FOr thiS yEar, I've made a commItmeNt that any SidE pRojEcTs I do, i Do in
ClOjuRe. I Cheated And starTEd iN 2014, bUT i Am Liking this way of focUsING
oN a languaGe for a YEaR aND doing evErYthIng iN THat.

MaYbe oNCe i have morE familIArItY with moRe LanguaGeS, I wIll Feel mORe
coMfortaBle using The apPRopriate languaGE to solve a partICuLAR pRObleM.
HoWever, isn't thAt paRT of lEarnINg? usiNG a hamMer on NaILs, SCrews and
bolts and figUrIng out What tHe hammer is gooD at and what IT ISn't?

------
JeremYMorGAn
gReat article. ThiS is soMething I've SAid pertaIning To intervIews for yeARS.
There haS to Be aDvaNceMENt In the skills. DoING somEtHing eveRy dAy is not An
iNdiCatOr oF iMprovemenT.

In fact, sOmEtImEs It cAn be wORse. When sOmEonE sAys "call tHIs persOn now!
He/shE hAs BEen Writing c# FoR 10 YEars!". thAt'S greAt aNd All buT havE TheY
been imProving thEir CRaft OvEr That 10 yeaRs, or getting enOuGh work to noT
gEt fIred? ThERE's an enorMous difference. And many tiMEs I woulD ruN into
FolkS who sunk iNto A rut anD diD The samE thing For 10 yeArS baSICally
"COAsTinG". THey make smaLL IncRemenTaL chaNges in wHat they do every day, bUT
weRen't out seekinG waYs to DRAsTicALlY ImpRoVE.

PrOGRamming is differEnt than manY oTHeR fields simPLy bEcAuse it rEquires
PassiON to survIve. If you lOok at learNiNg neW THinGs like "Ugh, I

don't have the time to le arn the in s and  ou tsof  the  qui rks behind som e  new 
tech. Does anyone hav e any  i n sigh t  i nto h andling th i s ? T ha nk s.
~ ~ ~sleaz ebr eeze
I' ve had the  sa me  quandary as yo u. Mainlywor k with Javaand  Javas cr ipt at
wo rk,  so I  wante d  to ad d a purel yf unctio n al lang u a ge . Iflirted with Hask e ll , 
Scala, Node,Scheme  a n dC l oju reand eventu al ly se t tled on fo c u s ing on gaining
abetter unde r sta ndingof  fu n ctiona l pro gr a mmi ng with Clo jure  becauseit has a
famil i ar plat form ( JVM ),synt a xIcan  u n der s ta nd( sor ry Haske ll  a nd Sc ala) a n d 
itsee ms l ike i t's going pla ces .

L a styear,  I ma inta in ed afocuson Ja va  and JS because  I'm  still in ter me dia te 
leve l  withtho seand did n't wan t  to  d i s t ra ct myself with oth er l an guages a nd
par a di gm s . That w as  agood c hoice .

F o rthis yea r, I'v e  m ad e a com mi tmentth atany  side proj ects I  do, I d o inC lojure. I chea t ed and starte d  i n 20 1 4, b utI am liking  thi s  way  off oc usi n g
ona lan gu a ge for a year and doin geveryt hingin that.

May be once Ih a v e more f amil i ar i ty with more l angua ges, I wil l  feel mo re
co mfortabl e using t h e  appropr iat e l ang uag e to  solve a part i c ular  p roblem. 
Ho wever,isn 'ttha t p ar t of lear ning? Us in gaha mme r onn ails, sc re wsan d
b oltsa nd fig uring  out  w ha t  th e hamme r  i s good  a tandwha tit is n't? 
-- ----
Je remyMorga n
G r eatar ti cle. Th is is somethi ng  I've said  p ert aining t o interv iews for years.
There h a s to be  ad vance ment  in the s kil ls. Do ing someth ing ev ery d ay  is n ot an i nd ica to r of impro v e men t.

I nfact , somet imes it can be wor s e.When someonesay s "C a l lthi s  p e rso nn ow! h e/she has beenwriting C#  f o r10 years!" .  Th at 's grea t and a ll bu t  have t hey
beenimproving  t heir c raf t over tha t 10 yea rs, or ge t tinge no ugh w ork  to no tget  fire d? The r e's  an e normou sdiffer ence.  A nd manytimes I would run intofolkswho s unk  into a r uta nddid the s amething for10yea rs ba sic a lly
" coas t in g". Theymake small inc r em ent a l  c hanges in w h a t  th ey do  ev e ry day , bu t
weren't out see k ing ways to dr asti c a lly  im p rove .
Programming i s d if f e rent tha nmany otherfields s im p ly be causeit req uires
p a s si o n to s urvi ve.  If you l ook  a t  learni ng  n e w thin gs l ik e "Ugh , I

don't have_the time_to learn the ins_and outs_of_the quirks_behind_some new
tech. Does_anyone have any_insight into handling this?_Thanks.

~~~
sleazebreeze
I've had the_same_quandary as you. Mainly work with Java and Javascript at
work, so I wanted to_add_a purely_functional_language._I flirted with Haskell,
Scala, Node,_Scheme and Clojure and eventually_settled on_focusing on gaining
a better understanding of functional programming_with_Clojure because it_has a
familiar platform (JVM), syntax I can understand (sorry_Haskell and Scala) and
it seems like_it's going places.

Last_year,_I_maintained a focus on_Java and JS because I'm still_intermediate
level with those and didn't want_to distract myself with other languages and
paradigms._That was a good choice.

For this_year, I've made a commitment_that any_side projects I do, I_do in
Clojure. I_cheated and_started in 2014,_but I am liking this way_of focusing
on a_language for a year and doing_everything_in that.

Maybe once_I_have_more familiarity_with more languages,_I_will feel_more
comfortable_using the appropriate language to solve_a_particular problem.
However, isn't that part of learning?_Using a hammer on_nails,_screws and
bolts and figuring_out what the hammer is_good at and what it isn't?

------
JeremyMorgan
Great_article. This_is something_I've said pertaining to interviews for years.
There has to be advancement_in the skills. Doing something every_day is not an
indicator_of improvement.

In_fact,_sometimes it can_be_worse. When_someone says "Call this person now!
he/she has_been writing_C# for 10 years!". That's great_and all but have_they
been_improving their craft over that 10_years, or getting enough work to_not
get fired? There's an enormous_difference._And_many times I would run_into
folks who sunk into a rut_and did the_same thing for 10 years basically
"coasting". They_make_small incremental changes in what they_do_every day, but
weren't out seeking ways_to_drastically_improve.

Programming is different than many_other fields simply because it requires
passion_to survive. If you look at learning new things_like "Ugh, I