Author Topic: Rubber Duck Programming  (Read 8775 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline LincolnB

  • Check It Out Now
  • LV9 Veteran (Next: 1337)
  • *********
  • Posts: 1115
  • Rating: +125/-4
  • By Hackers For Hackers
    • View Profile
Rubber Duck Programming
« on: March 13, 2012, 05:05:34 pm »
Hello everyone,

I'd like everyone, before they ask a question on this forum or anywhere, to think about this: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2012/03/rubber-duck-problem-solving.html

Please read through that, at least in passing. It really is valuable info, and will help I think to reduce spammy and five-second questions on this site (not that there's an abundance, but there are some)

Anyways, even if you don't read through that whole article, please read through this story (also found on the post):
Spoiler For Spoiler:
Bob pointed into a corner of the office. "Over there," he said, "is a duck. I want you to ask that duck your question."

I looked at the duck. It was, in fact, stuffed, and very dead. Even if it had not been dead, it probably would not have been a good source of design information. I looked at Bob. Bob was dead serious. He was also my superior, and I wanted to keep my job.

I awkwardly went to stand next to the duck and bent my head, as if in prayer, to commune with this duck. "What," Bob demanded, "are you doing?"

"I'm asking my question of the duck," I said.

One of Bob's superintendants was in his office. He was grinning like a bastard around his toothpick. "Andy," he said, "I don't want you to pray to the duck. I want you to ask the duck your question."

I licked my lips. "Out loud?" I said.

"Out loud," Bob said firmly.

I cleared my throat. "Duck," I began.

"Its name is Bob Junior," Bob's superintendant supplied. I shot him a dirty look.

"Duck," I continued, "I want to know, when you use a clevis hanger, what keeps the sprinkler pipe from jumping out of the clevis when the head discharges, causing the pipe to..."

In the middle of asking the duck my question, the answer hit me. The clevis hanger is suspended from the structure above by a length of all-thread rod. If the pipe-fitter cuts the all-thread rod such that it butts up against the top of the pipe, it essentially will hold the pipe in the hanger and keep it from bucking.

I turned to look at Bob. Bob was nodding. "You know, don't you," he said.

"You run the all-thread rod to the top of the pipe," I said.

"That's right," said Bob. "Next time you have a question, I want you to come in here and ask the duck, not me. Ask it out loud. If you still don't know the answer, then you can ask me."

"Okay," I said, and got back to work.
Completed Projects:
   >> Spacky Emprise   >> Spacky 2 - Beta   >> Fantastic Sam
   >> An Exercise In Futility   >> GeoCore

My Current Projects:

Projects in Development:
In Medias Res - Contest Entry

Talk to me if you need help with Axe coding.


Spoiler For Bragging Rights:
Not much yet, hopefully this section will grow soon with time (and more contests)



Offline parserp

  • Hero Extraordinaire
  • LV10 31337 u53r (Next: 2000)
  • **********
  • Posts: 1455
  • Rating: +88/-7
  • The King Has Returned
    • View Profile
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2012, 05:12:32 pm »
lol yeah lots of the time I have a question, then type it all up nice and neat, and then I realize the answer XD

Offline Juju

  • Incredibly sexy mare
  • Coder Of Tomorrow
  • LV13 Extreme Addict (Next: 9001)
  • *************
  • Posts: 5730
  • Rating: +500/-19
  • Weird programmer
    • View Profile
    • juju2143's shed
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2012, 05:44:11 pm »
Haha, I have to try that at least once.

Remember the day the walrus started to fly...

I finally cleared my sig after 4 years you're happy now?
THEGAME
This signature is ridiculously large you've been warned.

The cute mare that used to be in my avatar is Yuki Kagayaki, you can follow her on Facebook and Tumblr.

Offline epic7

  • Chopin!
  • LV11 Super Veteran (Next: 3000)
  • ***********
  • Posts: 2200
  • Rating: +135/-8
  • I like robots
    • View Profile
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2012, 07:45:22 pm »
* epic7 buys a rubber duck

Offline flyingfisch

  • I'm 1337 now!
  • Members
  • LV10 31337 u53r (Next: 2000)
  • **********
  • Posts: 1620
  • Rating: +94/-17
  • Testing, testing, 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8..9
    • View Profile
    • Top Page Website Design
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2012, 01:56:18 pm »
haha. also buttsfredskin changed his name?



Quote from: my dad
"welcome to the world of computers, where everything seems to be based on random number generators"



The Game V. 2.0

Offline LincolnB

  • Check It Out Now
  • LV9 Veteran (Next: 1337)
  • *********
  • Posts: 1115
  • Rating: +125/-4
  • By Hackers For Hackers
    • View Profile
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2012, 03:03:47 pm »
Yeah, there's a thread about it Buttsfredkin=LincolnB
Completed Projects:
   >> Spacky Emprise   >> Spacky 2 - Beta   >> Fantastic Sam
   >> An Exercise In Futility   >> GeoCore

My Current Projects:

Projects in Development:
In Medias Res - Contest Entry

Talk to me if you need help with Axe coding.


Spoiler For Bragging Rights:
Not much yet, hopefully this section will grow soon with time (and more contests)



Offline flyingfisch

  • I'm 1337 now!
  • Members
  • LV10 31337 u53r (Next: 2000)
  • **********
  • Posts: 1620
  • Rating: +94/-17
  • Testing, testing, 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8..9
    • View Profile
    • Top Page Website Design
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2012, 03:04:23 pm »
Yeah, there's a thread about it Buttsfredkin=LincolnB
where?



Quote from: my dad
"welcome to the world of computers, where everything seems to be based on random number generators"



The Game V. 2.0

Offline DJ Omnimaga

  • Clacualters are teh gr33t
  • CoT Emeritus
  • LV15 Omnimagician (Next: --)
  • *
  • Posts: 55941
  • Rating: +3154/-232
  • CodeWalrus founder & retired Omnimaga founder
    • View Profile
    • Dream of Omnimaga Music
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2012, 03:25:02 pm »
I'M a bit confused about the meaning of the first post actually. I guess it was lost in language barrier. X.x

Offline Nick

  • LV9 Veteran (Next: 1337)
  • *********
  • Posts: 1166
  • Rating: +161/-3
  • You just got omnom'd
    • View Profile
    • Nick Steen
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2012, 03:30:28 pm »
i don't really know what you mean, but this:

Yeah, there's a thread about it Buttsfredkin=LincolnB
where?

is a good example of what is meant by this text. Think about something before you ask something, and type it in on the forums xp
not offending anyone, just pointing out the point of this topic :)

Offline LincolnB

  • Check It Out Now
  • LV9 Veteran (Next: 1337)
  • *********
  • Posts: 1115
  • Rating: +125/-4
  • By Hackers For Hackers
    • View Profile
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #9 on: March 26, 2012, 03:49:45 pm »
haha NIck that's an excellent point. flyingfisch, I'm sure you'll be able to find it.
Completed Projects:
   >> Spacky Emprise   >> Spacky 2 - Beta   >> Fantastic Sam
   >> An Exercise In Futility   >> GeoCore

My Current Projects:

Projects in Development:
In Medias Res - Contest Entry

Talk to me if you need help with Axe coding.


Spoiler For Bragging Rights:
Not much yet, hopefully this section will grow soon with time (and more contests)



Offline DJ Omnimaga

  • Clacualters are teh gr33t
  • CoT Emeritus
  • LV15 Omnimagician (Next: --)
  • *
  • Posts: 55941
  • Rating: +3154/-232
  • CodeWalrus founder & retired Omnimaga founder
    • View Profile
    • Dream of Omnimaga Music
Re: Rubber Duck Programming
« Reply #10 on: March 26, 2012, 04:29:50 pm »
Oh ok. Of course Omni encourages people to be nice to each others though, so RTFM posts are not welcome (the reason why a few years ago some other sites were deserted in favor of Omnimaga, since people were tired of rudeness from some people elsewhere), but I agree that often if people do a bit of research before asking help, they'll find their stuff faster and save work for other people who help others. Also when asking questions it's best to explain your issue properly so people can actually help you. Stuff like "X thing doesn't work. Any clue?" won't let others help you until they know what error you are getting.