[KMag]

I think we all cargo-cult our way into programming and then over decades get better and better understanding of what we're doing and why.

I remember being 7 years old and not really understanding the AppleSoft BASIC manual. I memorized the variable names in the code examples, not realizing I could name variables whatever I wanted. A$, B$, LEFT_FOOT$. The latter was there to be obvious that one could name variables whatever one wanted, but 7 year-old me didn't understand. I remember talking to an older kid on the school bus whose father worked for IBM, and the confused look on his face when I started rattling off my list of memorized variable names. I can still picture his face, but I forget his name. I'm pretty sure he was Mike. Thanks for straitening me out, Mike (Schmidt?).

At least we're getting more effective cargo cults.

[madrox]

This maps to my experience as well. Think many senior engineers forget what it's like to learn programming. It is, in fact, incredibly hard.