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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watcgl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!watcgl!dmmartindale
From: dmmartindale@watcgl.UUCP (Dave Martindale)
Newsgroups: net.college
Subject: Re: Programming vs. marks vs. initiative
Message-ID: <797@watcgl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Dec-84 10:24:03 EST
Article-I.D.: watcgl.797
Posted: Mon Dec 17 10:24:03 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 18-Dec-84 02:20:12 EST
References: <224@looking.UUCP> <14700004@uiucdcsb.UUCP>
Reply-To: dmmartindale@watcgl.UUCP (Dave Martindale)
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 35

In article <14700004@uiucdcsb.UUCP> grunwald@uiucdcsb.UUCP writes:
>
>  You mention that a lot of "really famous people" started out as hacks: Well,
>admittedly, the people you mentioned in your list are famous in the micro-
>computer world.
>
>  However, projects in that world do not often require the cooperation, depth
>and knowledge that larger projects require. Could these people have assembled
>something like the Arpanet? Designed a multi-processor machine for numerical
>grid-equations? Design the INMOS-transputer or the INTEL-432?
>
>  I doubt it -- these projects require more knowlegde & experience than
>hacking. This doesn't mean that hacking is bad, but it also means that not
>hacking is not a terrible thing either. Learning to cooperate with others,
>to base your designs and goals and formal theory --- these are the goals for
>>computer science<.

How do you define "hacking"?  To me, it just refers to spending much time
on computing for one's own pleasure, rather than because you are paid or
required to.  Certainly, some people may waste this time.  However, others
may learn.

I learned a great deal about some parts of >computer science< by hacking -
simply because I could do things that were more substantial, interesting,
and difficult than could have possibly been given as assignments in class.

There are damned few students coming out of >computer science< schools who
are capable of assembling the Arpanet, multi-processor machines, etc.
on graduation.  For someone who has the interest and talent to be a good
computer scientist, hacking provides valuable experience that they aren't
likely to get strictly within courses.  For someone who is looking for an
excuse to waste their time, hacking will provide that too.

I think your argument is basically that hacking alone does not form a rounded
computer scientist.  I agree.