Ask HN: Typist helper for programmers?

2 pointshyung15y ago4 comments

Does anyone have experience working with a typist or junior programmer, so that you could code by dictation?

Outside of the benefits for coders with wrist injuries, I often find myself unmotivated when facing a lot of code changes that are relatively simple.

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michael_dorfman15y ago· 2 in thread

If the code changes are relatively simple, shouldn't the junior programmer be able to do them without dictation?

And, if you have a large number of routine and repetitive code changes to make, doesn't that point to a bigger problem in your code in the first place?

Finally: wouldn't it be more productive to address your motivation problems head-on?

hyungOP15y ago

I should clarify. After some more thought, what I really mean to ask is:

Would a senior and junior programmers' combined productivity be significantly higher if they were paired up instead of working separately?

Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that the senior programmer has 15+ years of experience and the junior has <1 year.

michael_dorfman15y ago

Well, without a doubt the junior programmer's productivity would improve by working closely with a senior programmer.

As for the senior programmer's productivity, that depends: if he is currently working near peak efficiency, having a junior programmer in his way will slow him down; if he is having motivational problems (as you implied in the earlier phrasing), having a junior programmer around may help him focus his attention, and achieve more.

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