First Rule of Programming Is Don't Program

While us programmers tend to say "I'll just program it myself" it is actually much faster to:

- Buy an off the shelf program and take 3 hours to read their proprietary API for extra functionality.

- Use an existing library and read the documentation rather than building your own code.

- Use VB.NET or Delphi for the front-end user interface.

- Buy a properly documented royalty-free library for under $1000 rather than spend months integrating open source code.

- Use Python or VB.NET even tho it just feels right to use Java/C. (Ok, I said it. Now if I can only get this VB.NET flame shield program to finish loading.)

Unfortunately, us programmers tend not to do this. "Oh, we need a queue class? I'll just build it myself, takes like 30 minutes tops."

As coders, we need to think like an engineer who is building a car. No engineer building a car will make the engine or windshield themselves. But us coders do this all the time.

There are 2 parts to every program: [1]: The new scientific code/algorithm you are writing. Which is typically quite small. (5%) [2] Everything else. (95%)

How many times have I got that urge.. "I don't want to do the research. I want to jump right in.. I bet I can finish this tonight.." 90% of the code out there is already written. It is more about adding the glue. And of course, finding it and reading the docs.