ID:10501
 
I wrote the following in reponse to id:444574, but realizing that it was off-topic, decided to post it here instead:

Rockinawsome wrote:
There needs to be some sort of test to define if a programmer in DM code is intermediate, beginner, or pro.

Not at all. What sort of questions would such a test ask anyway, and how would it arrive at such a conclusion? Does a walking, talking, and typing DM reference deserve a rating of "pro"? Of course not. Memorizing the reference does not a good programmer make. The reference is there in the first place so that these sorts of things can be looked up!

How are the levels "beginner," intermediate," and "pro" defined? Are they really so cut-and-dry? Of course not. Different programmers -do- have strengths and weaknesses in different areas, though with a strong programmer, "weakness" often translates to "area I haven't spent much time working with."

In the end, I think that programming ability essentially boils down to the ability to problem-solve within a set of constraints called a "language." The natural ability to problem-solve certainly has something to do with one's ultimate programming potential, but in any case, the more time one spends working on specific types of problems, the more successfully one can solve them, and similarly, the more time one spends within a specific set of constraints (a language), the more ways one can work around those constraints.

There's no well-defined point in time when you suddenly turn into an "intermediate" programmer; there's no well-defined point in time or an "advanced" programmer or a "guru," or whatever you'd like to call it. These are terms are labels, and extremely subjective ones at that.

While there may not be a well-defined point at which you reach "the next level" of programming, you can -always- improve; you can -always- get better. How? You get better at problem-solving by trying to solve problems; you get better at programming by trying to program. Program at any opportunity you have. If you have no original ideas, there's nothing wrong with doing something that's already been done before. After all, you don't have to put everything you write on the hub: programming solely for the sake of self-learning seems to be an underused technique among BYONDers, but it's an extremely valuable one.

Look at the hub descriptions of libraries without opening the library itself up and then write your own version of it (the result being that in the end, you can open the other library up and see what you did differently than its author). Actively seek out articles about programming techniques and algorithms, and then program using the newfound techniques! Show your work to programmers whose work you admire and ask for comment and critique! If you strive always to program as efficiently and effectively as you possibly can (bring your work to aforementioned admired programmers to make sure you're accomplishing this), you -will- improve.
Or, y'know, just pay better programmers to make your games for you. :)
and many people compare themselves to the BYOND population. people think that being better than half of the BYOND population makes them an average BYOND programmer. but, most programming concepts are universal. aside from some slightly oddball languages, being a good programmer means you're a good programmer in any language. so if you say that you're a good programmer in BYOND, you're really missing the point. its not about verbs and procs, its about being able to think of an algorithm to solve a problem.
I did that with Raekwon's Scoreboard demo! Mine looks nothing like his.
that's a good thing =)
Dude, it's simple:
0-2000 xp Newbie (1)
2001-4000 xp Mid Newbie (2)
4001-8000 xp Advanced Newbie (3)
8001-16000 xp Midbie (4)
16001-32000 xp Mid Midbie (5)
32001-64000 xp Advanced Midbie (6)
64001-128000 xp Junior Guru (7)
128001-256000 xp Guru (8)
256000-512000 xp Elder Guru (9)
512000+ BYOND MASTER (10)

Just grind away and make sure you are selling all the phat loot :-)
Sounds like something that would just give people more to be arrogant about.
SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD JUST MAKE YOU SHUT UP
...