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I have to deal with Microsoft employees not understanding null for dates or GUIDs, thereby actually making programming, especially if a database is involved, even more difficult.
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Richard MacCutchan wrote: Do those of you who still work in teams find this is a common problem with younger team members?
Versus other problems by inexperienced (younger) persons in any craft?
I didn't get better with null until I burned myself so many times that I started focusing on it intently. Thus experience.
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I didn't have that problem, but I did have a junior developer think that the font was causing a unicode problem.
Bond
Keep all things as simple as possible, but no simpler. -said someone, somewhere
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I have seen that.
'I loaded the file into my editor and I can't see the character!'
'Does your editor support unicode?...uh...Is your computer set up to display unicode?...uh...'
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That whole futbal thing with "nil" muddies the water for me. Then there is the script thing with "nul" which is not "null", "NULL", or "nil".
C had it right, just compare to 0 and go on.
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No. Where are you finding these people? It seems hard to get far in life without knowing what null is.
KNIGHT: The Knights Who Say Null demand a sacrifice!
ARTHUR: O, Knights Who Say Null, we are but simple travelers who seek an enchanter who lives beyond these woods.
KNIGHT: NULL! NULL! NULL!
ARTHUR and PARTY: Ooh, ow!
KNIGHT: We shall say NULL again to you, if you do not appease us.
ARTHUR: Well, what is it you want?
KNIGHT: We want... a :shipit: on this code-review.
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The best concept I found to explain Java/C# object references to newcomers is to use a “leash” as the metaphor.
Just because you have a leash in your hand, does not mean there is a dog on the other end. The object variable/leash is in the null/no-dog state.
Many Java programming errors occur when multiple leashes are attached to the same dog. (And each leash holder thinks they have a unique dog!) [This is why immutable objects are a good idea]
A new leash is attached to your dog every time you call a method and “pass” your leash by value. The method can “pull” your dog around or stuff it with treats.
How do you free the dog so it becomes a stray so that the dog catcher/garbage collector can pick it up? Assign the variable/leash to null, of course.
You can also mix types in with cat leashes vs dog leashes. This can work into leashes as interface holders.
This works with C pointers to some extent. You can build on the metaphor to include pointer arithmetic.
This is partly a reply to BillWoodruff but I wanted the reply at top level as I always found this a great metaphor.
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Besides my full time job as a developer I also teach Computer Science one night a week at a community college. My observation is that the focus for young developers/students is HOW to do things rather than WHY things need to be done. Having mentored many developers over the last 40+ years I always focus on the WHY, because once they understand the WHY the HOW not only becomes fairly obvious they find they often have multiple HOWs to choose from.
This is not unique to Computer Science, my 3 daughters are all teachers, High School English, High School Biology, and Elementary school. There is hope, perhaps slight and teacher dependent. The Elementary school teacher pioneered Common Core math in her school district and discovered kids she had taught math to that way in 1st and 2nd grade had significantly better performance in 4th grade. Of course, not universally, but sufficient to clearly see a difference.
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Our office is moving to a location, way to far to me to commute every day (an additional hour and half to the existing two hours)...
So I will start to work from home most of the days, and the question is - for those doing it already - what are the important things for a productive home office?
"If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization." ― Gerald Weinberg
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Quiet is good, a comfortable chair and a good desk. A designated work area is a good idea, rather than lying on the sofa with the lappie on your chest. If you act like it's an office, then you work like it's an office. Dress smart casual - like you would in an office. It may sound weird, but what you wear affects how you think. Slobbing out in tracky bottoms and a T is comfortable, but it's also "slobby" - and your brain knows that so the inclination is to act like a slob as well.
A time lock on the fridge helps keep the weight down ... there is a lot of potential for snacking which is a problem. If you go to the kitchen for a coffee, ket a coffee and leave. Don't grab a sandwich, or biscuits - if you normally eat bickies at work, keep them in the office area.
Time management is also important: have "work hours" and "off hours" - and try to stick to them. Don't goof off in work hours, don't work in off hours.
And enjoy the commute! I didn't realize how much stress and wasted time was involved until I stopped doing it and started walkign ten paces to get to my desk. 
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I have a separate room - check
Chair and desk (to be here in two days) are picked - check
Dress - was thinking pajamas... Reconsider it now (never was thinking of it, but makes sense)
Snacking - this is a real problem (just lost 20 kg in the last year and not eager to find it). Not sure how to solve it realistically... I have kids also at home at different times of the day... I may prepare the food just as I do for the office and close the door...
Time management - very good point! I will work on it...
Thank you for the tips!!!
"If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization." ― Gerald Weinberg
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I do not know about trackball... never had one I - to be honest - do not feel like trying it... It look huge...I'm using small-size mouse... very simple...
I will have a KVM (not sure what type) from the office, to enable to use both my own desktop computer and the one they will provide (I'm still not sure if I want a laptop or a small NUC)...
"If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization." ― Gerald Weinberg
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It's about the size of your hand: your palm rests on the "dome", with your index and middle finger naturally over the left and right mouse buttons - much the same as a regular mouse, but with addition support that stops about 3cm short of your wrist.
Once used to it, it feels very natural - and they aren't an expensive "experiment": I paid £39.99 for mine last month, but it was on offer from £49.99. Takes up less space than even a small mouse because it doesn't need room to move around - your thumb does all the work and your shoulder / elbow don't need to go anywhere! 
This is probably also good for RSI - your elbow can be supported by the chair arm and the wrist by the mouse. I've never had an RSI problem with my right hand, but I did with my left as the wrist is unsupported.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I looked up the kind in your article - it is sold locally for about £80... Interesting how they some up with that prize...
The more interesting thing is that I can order it online and get it almost for half, just have to wait like two weeks instead of two hours...
"If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization." ― Gerald Weinberg
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I use a KVM - it means that you only need one mouse, one keyboard, one screen, one headphone set; everything is familiar and desk space is minimised. Some folks may suggest VPN or Remote Connection as an alternative but it is best to have a clean separation; it saves risks of company secrets leaking out or home viruses leaking to your company's network. A KVM provides that separation - one click and you are at work, one click and you are at home.
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I have both and alternate every battery change. Trying to avoid OOS or whatever the acronym is these days.
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I work from home every day. I'm currently wearing pajama bottoms and a sweatshirt, and I'm one of the most productive people on my team. If cloths influence your state of mind, then go for dressing up. It doesn't impact mine.
Part of transitioning is figuring out what works for you. Sometimes I goof off during the day, but then I work a little extra afterwards to make up for it. I get my 8 hours in and rarely do more than that. I go with "if my brain needs a break, then take it". The trick is to distinguish a break (bathroom, coffee, stretch legs, water-cooler talk, etc.) from doing non-work (playing games, watching videos, etc.). I use the rule - if it was acceptable in the office, then it's acceptable when working at home, and vice versa.
Bond
Keep all things as simple as possible, but no simpler. -said someone, somewhere
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I lost weight during COVID. I think it was because I replaced half the commute with a bike ride for some exercise in the mornings. Allocating some time for that might work for you as well.
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OriginalGriff wrote: And enjoy the commute! I didn't realize how much stress and wasted time was involved until I stopped doing it and started walkign ten paces to get to my desk.
I would change that to... enjoy a walk in the time you usually would commute. Staying the whole day at home and not going out and get natural sun light might be a negative effect of working at home.
To Peter...
If you used to conmute 2 hours per day, then walking 30 minutes before working and 30 minutes after working will still be a 1 hour spare time and 1 hour "fitness" gain per day. Additionally will help your brain to switch between work and home modi.
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Griff says most of it quite well.
Dressing decently also means one is ready to do an unscheduled zoom/skype session without shame.
I would add: take good long walks everyday "without fail".
I walk 2-4 miles a day.
It doesn't take much time (a comfortable 2 mile walk takes about 45-60 min).
One's brain and body will be much better for it.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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I think the question of time management depends on your personality. One thing I love about working from home is that at 1 am when the answer to a problem occurs to me I can get up and try it. So what if I sleep longer in the morning?
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In addition to Griff's advice, I can recommend a standing desk like the IKEA Bekant (available with or without electric motor).
I also just ordered a wireless mouse which is very reasonably priced:
Amazon.com: TECKNET Wireless Mouse, Pro 2.4G Ergonomic Wireless Optical Mouse with USB Nano Receiver for Laptop,PC,Computer,Chromebook,Notebook,6 Buttons,24 Months Battery Life, 2600 DPI, 5 Adjustment Levels : Video Games[^]
I would also recommend a tenkeyless keyboard as it leaves more room for the mouse and in my opinion is a lot more ergonomic.
[UPDATE] I received the mouse today and it works well (even on a white surface), but it is smaller than I thought, definitely not for people with large hands!
modified 6-Mar-23 8:34am.
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I tried standing desk at office and does not work for me...
Also, I'm working wireless with almost anything (keyboard, mouse, printer) I can... While I was starting with numpad-less keyboard I got used to it in the last decade so not sure how I will do without one... I also have a 240 cm wide combined table which should have enough room for everything...
Thank you for the tips!!!
"If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization." ― Gerald Weinberg
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Standing and typing a lot is not a good combination indeed, but I try to avoid sitting too long as it's not a healthy thing. Mostly when I have finished something I crank the desk up and do some "monitoring" just some mouse clicking here and there, checking email, builder progress, Microsoft Teams etc.
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