Blog Entry: Beating the Averages

Writing code is one of the most powerful tools that could ever exist for a programmer and even more when computing and technology are evolving at an impressive speed.

The first time I looked at a programming language (My first language was python here on College) I was impressed on how complex it could be, but at the same time I saw at all the things that you can create with it. Before that the HTML language (that we could consider only a Markup Language as his name says) was my first encounter with a computer that when I wrote the first line on that moment I considered to learn more about differences for programming and that there are different kind of languages that a computer can translate.

There is something curious about the lecture, on the 90's the computer was beginning to get support from different companies and applications or interfaces were not so complex as the ones we have today. It's amazing that a group of people and a language that is LISP could create a service without using a direct client on the user’s PC. This was the beginning for the web applications that we know on the modern age. For me, this kind of work is something that I could consider creative and that with the right effort they could create on that moment what could be impossible.

Also, let's remark that on that moment there was already languages that on that time they were easier to use. what they remark on the reading is that if you use something that other can't handle that makes you unique, in the context for programming that is correct, but at the same time every company looks for programmers that knows a common language, they need a group that think the same way and having programmers that knows maybe C++ and another with Java knowledge etc. etc. you have different point of views for creating something, but they need a common language to develop something. Other companies prefer to pick employees with different knowledge because the more rare language you can handle (and also the company uses to work) more money you can win, is a two side of the coin, from one side it's good because you win money you deserve for the effort of learning complex or rare programming language that no one can handle, but at the same is good to know a common language because is what is used on actual days not only because it's cheaper, but for an easy development and to give results with a large team.

Now, about the strategy they used to differentiate from the competition is something that an entrepreneur would have in mind and is respected (in my point of view and being honest I won't consider to create a startup or a business of my own until I get the right knowledge and also worked a good amount of time in a company, my personality is that way I don't like to take that kind of risk until you have a strategy or a way to have the project a complete success), competition is getting a big challenge nowadays startups and small business are having trouble to stay on battle, if you don't have a creative idea there is a high chance of poor success.

So, as a conclusion, there are situations that being unique is really helpful, but sometimes you need to have something in common so the work or project you are going to do could have a high rate of success and in this case learning different programming languages had the two thing if you know more programming languages that others know you are able to have success (and also helps you to get different perspectives), but at the same time you need to know languages that others could handle maybe for a teamwork or to develop something because that group needs to think the same way the others do.