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RTFM? WTFITFM?
February 12th, 2019 12:52I've worked as a programmer for about half the time starting 30 years ago. Many things have changed, but especially how you handle running into a weird problem where a software tool doesn't work the way you expect:
30 years ago: Ask co-workers if they know the answer. If not, look for a book about it. Failing that, flail around randomly for weeks because there's no other option.
15 years ago: Ask co-workers if they know the answer. If not, try searching online. Failing that, flail around randomly for days, then switch to a different tool.
Now: Search online. Find pages X, Y, and Z that describe the same problem. Try all the suggestions there. None of them work. Then message a co-worker, asking if they know the answer. Fifteen minutes later, get a message back saying "I found these pages online, hope they help! [links to X, Y, Z.]" Go to the online support area for the tool and see that it hasn't been updated in 10 years. Continue searching for different terms online, and accidentally trying things you've already tried, until the project you're working on is redesigned and what you were trying to do becomes irrelevant.
30 years ago: Ask co-workers if they know the answer. If not, look for a book about it. Failing that, flail around randomly for weeks because there's no other option.
15 years ago: Ask co-workers if they know the answer. If not, try searching online. Failing that, flail around randomly for days, then switch to a different tool.
Now: Search online. Find pages X, Y, and Z that describe the same problem. Try all the suggestions there. None of them work. Then message a co-worker, asking if they know the answer. Fifteen minutes later, get a message back saying "I found these pages online, hope they help! [links to X, Y, Z.]" Go to the online support area for the tool and see that it hasn't been updated in 10 years. Continue searching for different terms online, and accidentally trying things you've already tried, until the project you're working on is redesigned and what you were trying to do becomes irrelevant.
