When we first started out, as programmers and web designers, we lurked in forums, university, etc. Using all the resources we could to learn. Have you ever stumbled with people like this:
“Newbie”:
Hello, my name is David. I need help with this layout and I’m using some constant with the layouts and so on. I have this function that is not working. I’m expecting it output images from random users profiles, but for some reason it’s outputting just the
<img> tag, without the SRC.
Now, from what you can see I’m just looking for help. Nothing weird in that right? Now you see these kind of people entering in the conversation:
“Super Helpful Nerd that follows all existing standards in the world”
Hello,
Please refrain from posting in this forum, it’s only to talk about PHP scripting language. Now, I checked your code, you should consider using tabs, and you are not using naming conventions. “Every” programmer already “knows” that it is required to make the code more readable. I noticed you are using tables in your layout. Please changing your layout to tableless, also I see that your layout doesn’t work in Firefox, I’m guessing it works in Internet Explorer, but who uses that anyway.
After taking a look at your code. I’d recommend not using constants in template, they become troublesome on the large run. Now, don’t use static functions, jesus, and why is it in a object? It should be re-usable, extendable, and with purpose in mind.
Anyway, check your constant have the wrong variable.
So this zealot, who seems to hold dearly all nerdy hypes wants to convert you to his “religion”. I’ve stumbled with these kind of people before, the so “helpful person” want to demonstrate you, that they are right no matter what. Of course they are, maybe, but the answer to your question will remain unanswered. So yea, ignore this kind of people, they’ll probably try to brainwash you and make you lose your objective in your project.
Why? Why would a starter in X technology worry about things like design patterns, naming convention, tableless layouts, etc? It just going to make the newbie feel lost, that’s a first, and then lose motivation looking at the many things he/she needs to learn. If this happens to you, just wait for another person to reply something more useful, or switch forums.
I hear you on this one. Having been around many programmers and being one myself, it’s often just one giant pissing match about who’s method is the best. The sad thing is that it’s often hard to remember why certain methods are the best, or even what the metrics for “best” are in a particular case (because as we all know they’re never the same…). Standards are important and all, but you’re unlikely to get a raise for *wasting time* following every little validation point, they don’t make your application do back flips and make pancakes at the same time, and they’ll never get you laid.
In all seriousness though, the best advice that I’ve given other programmers, fledgling and seasoned, is to, “be zealous about nothing except about not being zealous.” Or, in other words, “get a grip and get some perspective.”