Episode 194: The One Thing Every Programmer Should Know with Kevlin Henney
Aug 9, 2024
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Kevlin Henney, an independent consultant and influential voice in programming, shares wisdom from his editorial work on '97 Things Every Programmer Should Know.' He emphasizes the importance of collaboration and diverse perspectives in software development. The conversation highlights the necessity of prioritizing programming insights while also tackling the challenges of categorizing vast software knowledge. Additionally, Kevlin introduces the playful concept of 'book bombing,' a fun way to foster learning among colleagues.
The collaborative nature of '97 Things Every Programmer Should Know' showcases programming as a multifaceted discipline enriched by diverse perspectives.
Utilizing a Creative Commons license for the book promotes shared knowledge, encouraging open discussions and modifications within the programming community.
Deep dives
The Value of Collaborative Knowledge
The discussion highlights the importance of community input in programming through the book '97 Things Every Programmer Should Know.' Edited collaboratively, the book contains contributions from 73 diverse individuals, emphasizing that programming knowledge is best expressed through a variety of perspectives. This collaborative nature allows readers to access a wider range of insights and methods than a single author's viewpoint could provide. The rich diversity of authors also reinforces the idea that programming is a multifaceted discipline, encouraging programmers to explore different approaches and techniques.
Creative Commons and Open Access
A significant aspect of the book's philosophy is its use of a Creative Commons license, enabling broader access to the material. This approach allows individuals to share the content and even modify it without the fear of infringement, as long as they follow the licensing terms. This openness encourages discussions and further exploration of the content shared among programmers, facilitating learning beyond traditional purchasing models. It also reflects an understanding of the collaborative nature of programming communities by valuing shared knowledge over proprietary ownership.
Organizing Knowledge: The Alphabetical Order Choice
The podcast underscores the challenge of organizing diverse contributions in a way that makes the knowledge easily retrievable. The decision to arrange entries alphabetically arises from the necessity to avoid favoritism among contributors and to provide a straightforward way to access information. The editing process involved selecting from nearly 200 submissions while ensuring that no singular structure emerged, highlighting the organic nature of the compilation. This method emphasizes that knowledge in programming isn't linear but rather a web of interconnected ideas, making an alphabetical listing a practical solution.
Kevlin Henney is an independent consultant, speaker, writer and trainer. His software development interests are in programming, practice and people. He has been a columnist for various magazines and websites. He is the co-author of A Pattern Language for Distributed Computing and On Patterns and Pattern Languages, two volumes in the Pattern-Oriented Software Architecture series, and editor of 97 Things Every Programmer Should Know and co-editor of 97 Things Every Java Programmer Should Know.
Show Notes
Date Recorded: 2024-07-11 Date Released: 2024-08-09