Week 3: Why Geeks Should Write?

The first slog in CSC148 focuses on the topic ”why geeks should write”. Maybe I would find this question was abstract and ambiguous 4 months ago. However, after I wrote the whole learning process of CSC165 on the slog last semester, I realized that writing slogs benefited me a lot, and I had a better understanding on why our professor asked us to do this.

Firstly, slogs can help us recall what we have done and we will improve on this. When I studied CSC165, I went back frequently to see my old slogs. I could figure out the reason why I got confused at that time, and shortcoming of the inappropriate study method or the immature thinking mode. Similarly for programmers, reading old slogs can be perfect and even correct them the way of writing code in a large extent, and sometimes can inspire them new ideas.

Another advantage of writing slogs is to build a bridge to communication. Last semester, I always looked through others’ CSC165 slogs. I became not that frustrated because I found I shared the common problems with other classmates. Furthermore, I explored different ways to solve the problem and brand-new angles to look at it. For programmers, it is also critically important to communicate efficiently. Though writing articles, like slogs, they can share their advanced knowledge and research achievements, and also gain the feedbacks in time. This process stimulates wider cooperation and speeds up constructing the new field of computer science as well.

Moreover, slogs help us to make our codes more organized. Like my classmate, XIAOTIAN FENG said, “writing can help people organize their thoughts and sort out their emotions and feelings.”(From http://xiaotiancsc148slog.blogspot.ca) When we write down what lead to this code and how can we get it, we will obtain a deeper understanding and a clearer map of it. And writing slogs training us to be more capable to fully explain our thoughts, and make the explanation readable and reasonable for others.

Overall, writing slogs improve programmers’ self-performance and stimulate them communicate and collaborate with others.