Comments on: How to explain programming to your Mum http://www.programming4scientists.com/2009/08/18/how-to-explain-programming-to-your-mum/ Software development wisdom and common-sense for the scientist-programmer Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:47:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Andrew http://www.programming4scientists.com/2009/08/18/how-to-explain-programming-to-your-mum/comment-page-1/#comment-503 Andrew Fri, 06 May 2011 04:51:12 +0000 http://www.programming4scientists.com/?p=583#comment-503 I usually explain it like this: I am designing a machine. It's a virtual machine that's invisible to us, but it's a machine nonetheless. The machine needs to have certain functionality, but it is totally up to me how it will carry out its functions, and there are million ways it could be done. Since I am designing a machine, I need to break it down into its components, and figure out how they will fit together in the end. I also need to figure out which components I need to make myself and which ones I can find ready-made. If I use ready-made ones, I need to make sure they will work and figure out how to use them properly Once I've assembled my machine, it often doesn't work quite right at first, and I need to pay close attention to all its components as it operates in order to locate the hang-up. I usually explain it like this:

I am designing a machine. It’s a virtual machine that’s invisible to us, but it’s a machine nonetheless. The machine needs to have certain functionality, but it is totally up to me how it will carry out its functions, and there are million ways it could be done.

Since I am designing a machine, I need to break it down into its components, and figure out how they will fit together in the end. I also need to figure out which components I need to make myself and which ones I can find ready-made. If I use ready-made ones, I need to make sure they will work and figure out how to use them properly

Once I’ve assembled my machine, it often doesn’t work quite right at first, and I need to pay close attention to all its components as it operates in order to locate the hang-up.

]]> By: Harlan http://www.programming4scientists.com/2009/08/18/how-to-explain-programming-to-your-mum/comment-page-1/#comment-490 Harlan Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:05:20 +0000 http://www.programming4scientists.com/?p=583#comment-490 Excellent! I find it hard to explain to non-programmers the sorts of things I do in my daily job. This short article definitely helps. Excellent! I find it hard to explain to non-programmers the sorts of things I do in my daily job.

This short article definitely helps.

]]> By: Mailund on the Internet » Blog Archive » Last week in the blogs http://www.programming4scientists.com/2009/08/18/how-to-explain-programming-to-your-mum/comment-page-1/#comment-362 Mailund on the Internet » Blog Archive » Last week in the blogs Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:46:54 +0000 http://www.programming4scientists.com/?p=583#comment-362 [...] How to explain programming to your mum (Programming for scientists) [...] [...] How to explain programming to your mum (Programming for scientists) [...]

]]> By: IanHuston.net — Latest From FriendFeed this week http://www.programming4scientists.com/2009/08/18/how-to-explain-programming-to-your-mum/comment-page-1/#comment-361 IanHuston.net — Latest From FriendFeed this week Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:27:19 +0000 http://www.programming4scientists.com/?p=583#comment-361 [...] Twitter: @LIGO Will the paper be available on the arxiv or just in Nature? From Google Reader: How to explain programming to your Mum From Twitter: Interesting PRL article about arrow of time: we can only experience events with [...] [...] Twitter: @LIGO Will the paper be available on the arxiv or just in Nature? From Google Reader: How to explain programming to your Mum From Twitter: Interesting PRL article about arrow of time: we can only experience events with [...]

]]> By: IanHuston.net — Latest From FriendFeed today http://www.programming4scientists.com/2009/08/18/how-to-explain-programming-to-your-mum/comment-page-1/#comment-360 IanHuston.net — Latest From FriendFeed today Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:24:47 +0000 http://www.programming4scientists.com/?p=583#comment-360 [...] Google Reader: How to explain programming to your Mum From Twitter: Interesting PRL article about arrow of time: we can only experience events with [...] [...] Google Reader: How to explain programming to your Mum From Twitter: Interesting PRL article about arrow of time: we can only experience events with [...]

]]> By: IanHuston.net — Latest From FriendFeed http://www.programming4scientists.com/2009/08/18/how-to-explain-programming-to-your-mum/comment-page-1/#comment-358 IanHuston.net — Latest From FriendFeed Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:01:04 +0000 http://www.programming4scientists.com/?p=583#comment-358 [...] Google Reader: How to explain programming to your Mum From Twitter: Interesting PRL article about arrow of time: we can only experience events with [...] [...] Google Reader: How to explain programming to your Mum From Twitter: Interesting PRL article about arrow of time: we can only experience events with [...]

]]> By: Robere http://www.programming4scientists.com/2009/08/18/how-to-explain-programming-to-your-mum/comment-page-1/#comment-356 Robere Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:04:26 +0000 http://www.programming4scientists.com/?p=583#comment-356 Good explanation, just don't say mathematics. Computers are better than people at arithmetic, but certainly not logic/mathematics. Good explanation, just don’t say mathematics. Computers are better than people at arithmetic, but certainly not logic/mathematics.

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