The interesting or the easy way?
Well, I've had a few discussions with a friend of mine. He uses Visual Basic while I myself prefer Java.
The subject of our discussion was the following: Suppose you have to solve a problem. You discover an easy way to solve it, but there's another way which is more complicated but promises the opportunity to learn a few new things. Thus, the more complicated way will surely be the more interesting one.
Now, which way will you choose, given that you don't have limited time to solve the problem?
Re: The interesting or the easy way?
Quote:
Originally posted by Captain Nuss
Now, which way will you choose, given that you don't have limited time to solve the problem?
Was that "don't" misplaced or did that question really ask "given no time constraints..."?
Anyway,
If time constraint is not present, one should go for both the methods -- gaining the best learning advantage out of the scenario. One may begin with the easier method, finish it and gain confidence, and then proceed onto the other one. But this has an additional risk of the person bored-down if he's stuck somewhere on the other method (after all, the task has been finished via the easier method, so there's no obligating reason to finish via the interesting method too). So beginning with the complicated method may actually help retain the intellectual curiosity in the project.
Now, if time restraint is present, then decision must be made according to the weight/importance of the project. Does the scenario possess the risk of you messing up the project if the intersting method does not seem to fruit up quickly? If yes, then it may even harm instead of helping you to learn (1. you mess up the project, and 2. you practice the wrong techniques of doing things). This is usually not the case with most seemingly complicated projects in computer science, so it may well be advised to choose the complicated method which is able to hold your interests and make you learn several new techniques in order to accomplish it.
That was my view of it....btw, what was your stance in that discussion?