From: Sebastian Hungerecker <sepp2k@...>
Date: 2007-09-23T17:12:47+09:00
Subject: Re: Getting started with Ruby (noob confusion)

Nunya Business wrote:

> A few of the projects I have in mind:
>
> A snazzy, skinable web browser with ftp capabilities built-in (among
> other things)
> An instant messenger
> Newsreader
> Mail client
>
> As you can see, just very basic stuff.

Consider for a moment why you want to write those apps: I guess it's because 
none of the exisiting ones has all the features that you want or because the 
existing ones have too many bugs.
Now consider how many people use those programs and how many people
work (and get paid to work) on these programs and ask yourself: why are
those programs still not perfect? Answer: because they are not basic stuff.
Far from it.


> PS Something I've been wondering for a while; need I be proficient in
> math to develop the type of apps I have in mind? 

A firm understanding of maths certainly helps. Especially when it comes to
designing effective algorithms and such.

> I'm just horrible with numbers. I feel like this particular weakness
> may hamper my dreams of programming.

You certainly don't need to be good with numbers to be good programmer.
You don't need to be good with numbers to be a good mathematician either.
I know people who are very good at maths and use a calculator for things
like 7+6.


HTH,
Sebastian
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