[SixOfEleven]

What do you think some of the most important skills a programmer needs to have?

I think that programmers need excellent problem solving skills.

Programmers need to have the ability to read and retain information as technology is constantly changing. What was cutting edge today may not be tomorrow.

I think that a good imagination is also a good skill, especially for game programmers.

What are your thoughts?

[KYA]

Problem Solving
Ability to work independently or as part of a team
Self-starter
People skills
Imagination
Creativity
Ability to pick up and run with new concepts/technologies

Just a few off of the top of my head.

[SixOfEleven]

KYA, on 16 Apr, 2009 - 08:19 AM, said:

Problem Solving
Ability to work independently or as part of a team
Self-starter
People skills
Imagination
Creativity
Ability to pick up and run with new concepts/technologies

Just a few off of the top of my head.

Yes, I agree to all of them. Also writing skills might be good as well.

[JonBernal]

Invisibility
Flying
Element vending
Flying
Super Strength

among others, but i find this ones
to be the most important ones.


EDIT**

Teleportation
Super Speed

This post has been edited by JonBernal: 16 April 2009 - 10:13 AM

[Raynes]

Clojure.




\o/

[macosxnerd101]

Being able to teach yourself new skills is the only thing that I really want to emphasize. Otherwise, I agree with everything posted.

[KYA]

Raynes, on 16 Apr, 2009 - 10:23 AM, said:

Clojure.




\o/

I'm just going to put this out there. It is extremely annoying to read your posts. You always say Clojure, to any question. The question could be "What's your favorite waffle topping?" and your answer is Clojure. I get it. It's neat to really like something, but FFS, broaden your horizons a bit. There is a reason not every piece of software is written in Clojure. It doesn't cure cancer you know.

On a professional level, it would not surprise me if you pigeonhole yourself because of your infatuation with Clojure.

[JonBernal]

haha
Hey Raynes.

What is your favorite waffle topping?

[graphichill]

im firstly a designer, ive learned css and html and currently learning javascript to try and be a all rounder.

I believe a good memory is very important and a methodical logical line of though.

I too believe the speed of light and able to fly are on the top of the list.

Well, whats your favourite waffle?

[JonBernal]

Dude, i tell you, if i wasn't able
to fly i don't know how i could ever
be a good programmer :S

[modi123_1]

The ability to say "no".

That is:
"no" to clients for super strange bells and whistles,
"no" to scope creep,
"no" to ridiculous time lines,
"no" to more work than you can handle (well maybe that's more like "later", but really who had a client actually *wait* until later? they always wanted it yesterday),
and the big "no" regarding if you can even take on a task.


How many people said "yes" to a project to find themselves over their head?

[WaibelRD]

One of the most important skills for a programmer? COMMUNICATION!

I have been the Programmer for my company for over 3 years. Communication between myself and the requesting parties is essential. It keeps me from coding, then re-coding.

This post has been edited by WaibelRD: 16 April 2009 - 12:09 PM

[hollywood]

Yes. All of the above. Being able to converge on a solution. Knowing when to stop or at least when to release a phase.
Being able to collaborate with others and build on their efforts. Avoid the NIH syndrome but conversely know when to stand your ground. Understand how to scale a design. One must be able to adapt to the situation at hand.

Always leave them wanting more. 8-)

[ccubed]

Writing and Talking. Let's face it, We're moving away from the programmers who get stuffed into their own little office on the fifth floor. Now, you work in the general offices, interact with people everyday and have to write with proper grammer and spelling. I know, don't faint.

I have to say that being able to write a professional letter, communicate your thoughts and ideas efficiently and correctly, and being able to give presentations is on the top of the list now-a-days. You can learn a programming language, IDE, source control system, etc. However, you cannot teach proper etiquette, english, grammar or writing skills once someone hits the job market. You just don't have time.

In fact, my minor is professional communications because I want an internship at SONY. Why should my minor be professional communications? The person I had to go through to get it asked me this question first, "Can you present your ideas properly and correctly, write a business letter and speak in front of foreign customers?" Know why? Because the foreigners speak better english than us.

Anyways, Just my two cents. Technical knowledge is great, but that can be taught. Whereas the ability to put your thoughts on paper or communicate them to someone above you in the company is something you've either learned or not.

This post has been edited by ccubed: 16 April 2009 - 02:07 PM

[SixOfEleven]

ccubed, on 16 Apr, 2009 - 01:05 PM, said:

Writing and Talking. Let's face it, We're moving away from the programmers who get stuffed into their own little office on the fifth floor. Now, you work in the general offices, interact with people everyday and have to write with proper grammer and spelling. I know, don't faint.

I have to say that being able to write a professional letter, communicate your thoughts and ideas efficiently and correctly, and being able to give presentations is on the top of the list now-a-days. You can learn a programming language, IDE, source control system, etc. However, you cannot teach proper etiquette, english, grammar or writing skills once someone hits the job market. You just don't have time.

In fact, my minor is professional communications because I want an internship at SONY. Why should my minor be professional communications? The person I had to go through to get it asked me this question first, "Can you present your ideas properly and correctly, write a business letter and speak in front of foreign customers?" Know why? Because the foreigners speak better english than us.

Anyways, Just my two cents. Technical knowledge is great, but that can be taught. Whereas the ability to put your thoughts on paper or communicate them to someone above you in the company is something you've either learned or not.

Very well put!

I think anybody persuing a career in programming/development should have good written/verbal skills. I don't know what grade level the members are that post in the help forums are but some of them have a hard time explaining their problems. When I went to school, late 80s early 90s, students that went to colleges HAD to take communications classes. Universities were a different story. (There is a big difference between colleges and universities in Ontario. Colleges had a rigid programs with few electives. In universities the students had more control over their courses.) Most universities in Ontario focused on math and programming. A few required that students passed an english equivalncy test that was a joke. Even fewer had students take an English course, on grammer or essay writting, depending on their proficeincy.