Have you ever had a mentor? I keep reading on the Internet that the best (and maybe only) way to become an expert programmer is to have someone mentor you. But I have never been mentored. Should I try to seek one out? Do you have any experience with either having been mentored or being a mentor?
On the purely technical side of things, I think the main advantages of having a mentor is for the code reviews, for the opinions on your workflow, and for getting suggestions when you get stuck. These are the things you do not get easily when you are a solo programmer. It is easy to overestimate the quality of one's own code.
for the code reviews, for the opinions on your workflow, and for getting suggestions when you get stuck.
I get all of these as part of my work, from my team. Aren't they part of the usual agile rituals? Maybe not the opinions on workflow, but the rest should be.
What about the non-purely technical side of things?
>>3
I guess you have tell us about your background and what you want from a mentor. For example, if you are a competent amateur who lives in a place that has no computer technology industry and almost no programmers, and you program only during weekends, then your needs will be very different from a person who has a job in industry. It is also different if you are a student.
>>4
I have a full time job where my title is "Software Engineer".
My father was my mentor, I would ask him for help when I was 12 and he would replace all my tabs with spaces which always pissed me off a little.
>>6
Child abuse.
>>5
Aren't there other engineers at your company to mentor you?
>>8
Maybe, but, as you can guess from me frequenting this site, I am terrified of social interactions.
>>9
There's your fundamental problem. Go socialize, it's a skill just like programming that takes practice.
>>10
Compilers don't give me panic attacks.
>>11
You can consciously train yourself to get a panic attack from using a compiler. You can consciously train yourself to be a normal human and talk with normal humans. You choose to remain as you are with a defective emotional response to talking to people.
>>11
I guess you've never tried teaching people to program. Some people literally panic when they see a text editor or a compiler error message. You have the same problem just a different situation.
>>12-13
The thread seems to be moving towards a presumed answer to OP's question, without ever making the arguement.
Is mentorship the grown-up version of tutoring? Will it turn me into a genius?
Mentor is Greek. Tutor is Roman.
>>1
Mentoring is overrated.
>>17
It's always useful to hear tips and get assistance from someone who already knows the stuff.
Teach me SSF2X
https://twitter.com/PeteFighter/status/1505331609628811278#m
you got to learn how to do that dragon punch bro
>>20
I choose ZANGIEF; who needs a dragon punch ? *grab*
i heard z-grizzle got in trouble for grabbing chun-li
>>18
It's always more useful to find answers on your own while learning to find more answers and thus getting deeper understanding of the subject, and asking for help only when you are stuck.
>>22
E.Honda is the one that got in trouble "hugging" Chunners.
>>23
That sounds cool in a school setting but most people can't afford such luxuries at their work. If you learn from the efforts of others, why not do it?
>>25
Because in this case you'll go back asking again and again. Not always but usual.