The traits of a proficient programmer
Probably the most important bit of the entire article, which you can probably get from many self help career books (applies to all, not just programmers):
&quot;Ask others to explain why they do things, but don&#x27;t just accept dogmatic reasoning. Demand examples and inquire about context, so that you can try to imagine what it is like to be in their shoes. Doing this is tremendously valuable because it allows you to see the strengths and weaknesses of ideas in their natural habitats.&quot;<p>One thing I can add is always question. There&#x27;s a reason kids ask tons of questions, they want to know. Asking questions not only increases your own knowledge, and that of the person answering, but it also creates a culture where complacency is extinct. The one thing I hate more than people that litter are people that say &quot;oh, well, that&#x27;s the way I&#x27;ve always done it.&quot; There&#x27;s lots more I dislike above that, but...complacency is the death of innovation. Then again, sometimes things just work....but that shouldn&#x27;t stop you from trying to improve it.