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We programmers tend to think of ourselves as concrete, logical thinkers. We work from step 1 to step 2 through to step N. So we say. But real life is not like that: One minute you have no idea how the new design will come together and the next, well, there it is. One minute you haven't a clue as to why the program is doing that and the next it is all just obvious. And we have all seen code that is wonderful or horrible in some indescribable way.
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In the presentation titled "Insight, Intuition and Programming," Russ Olsen delves into the complex nature of programming, exploring the roles of insight and intuition in the development process. He begins by acknowledging the struggles programmers face, highlighting a common experience where coding can feel easy one day and overwhelmingly challenging the next. Key points discussed include: - **The Nature of Programming Difficulties**: Olsen reflects on why programming can be unexpectedly hard, especially when early exercises become surprisingly complex. He references the early history of programming and how it was designed to alleviate complexity. - **Emergent Behavior in Programming**: By sharing the story of Gray Walter’s robotic turtles, he illustrates how both intended and unintended behaviors emerge from simple coding. These robots exhibit behaviors not designed by the programmer, which parallels the unpredictable nature of programming outcomes. - **Logic vs. Intuition**: Olsen distinguishes between the logical processes programmers like to believe they follow and the actual intuitive breakthroughs that occur after grappling with challenging problems for extended periods. He draws attention to how different brain functions mediate these insights, emphasizing the need to balance logical reasoning with creative thought. - **Practical Tips for Cultivating Insight**: He offers concrete advice on enhancing intuitive insight, such as selecting relevant facts, simplifying logging processes to focus on meaningful data, and allowing moments of silence during pair programming. - **Consequences of Misleading Insights**: He cautions against relying solely on intuitive leaps, using the example of Percival Lowell’s misinterpretation of Martian observations to illustrate how misleading insights can distort conclusions. - **Profiling Over Inspection**: Rather than diving directly into optimization, Olsen advocates for profiling to reveal true performance bottlenecks in systems, supporting the idea that effective programming requires a deeper understanding of system behavior rather than surface-level inspection. - **Connecting Facts and Creativity**: He concludes by urging programmers to cultivate a broad base of knowledge that includes various programming languages and fields, which can strengthen their ability to recognize patterns and foster better insights. The key takeaway is that programming is not just about logic and facts but also about understanding emergent systems and how different areas of knowledge can enrich problem-solving capabilities. Olsen encourages programmers to reflect on their contributions to broader systems in society, linking their technical skills with interdisciplinary insights. Overall, Russ Olsen’s talk challenges programmers to embrace the complexity of their experiences while fostering a mindset that values both logical thinking and creative insight.
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