Ag ionnsachadh còd a dhèanamh ann an fichead ’s a h-aon

Learning to code in twenty twenty one

Where to start ... where to start :-

Let's begin with the health and safety guidelines with regard to working in front of a computer for extended lengths of time. It is a job. A well paid job at times.

One of the major concerns is your eyes. 

Taking regular rest breaks is essential.  It is essential that you look after the faculties that provide the central nervous system with visual information.  So take breaks, go for walks and rest roughly every 4 hours. These are the guidelines, and are very useful.

One of the major difference between just typing and programming is that your eyes are always engaged in what you are typing. As one letter, space, semi-colon, full stop, bracket. Depending on the programming language you are writing in. Will alter how the program will run. It may then produce a result other than what was expected. Or it may act in a way other than intended requiring investigation. Or not run at all which will also require a thorough investigation or analysis. Another issue is the program may get stuck in a loop, and the process will have to be stopped.

An other major concern is, Repetitive Strain Injury or (R.S.I.). 

This became a concern, after working for 12 years the strain on the fingers and wrists, did begin to be felt. People who type a lot are not lifting 20+ Kilos everyday. But equally nobody is lifting 20+ Kilos 80 times a minute for hours on end, maybe if your competing for the Olympics perhaps, even then it would be 8 or 10 not 80. The average typing speed is around 60 - 80 words a minute and over time the nerves, bones, and muscles, deteriorate. 

The other thing I would like to highlight with regards to programming is sensory deprivation. In order to concentrate and solve problems a lot of the time you are cut off or cut yourself off from the world in order to solve a particularly tricky problem. This is not healthy as a social species our instinct is to help and discussing problems and issues and silencing that interaction with others is not helpful or healthy. Meditating on a problem can help, but discussing the solution is always helpful.  Closing our ears to the world around us is also not helpful. As we are social animals requiring exercise of our voices as well as ears. This can be necessary to avert any dangers, so they tell me anyway.

Many a tale has been told of ship crew mates being cast adrift on a lonely island and dealing with the difficulties there after.  Castaway which is a movie I have yet to see, Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island are examples in fiction. So don't do it, engage with others, and others be receptive not cold hearted, its not healthy.