Comments on: On Builds The lack of build times is why I enjoy hacking around with Python so much compared to the C++ I do at work, instant results to my code changes is very satisfying and addictive. The large build times that seem so common in C++ make not being distracted nearly impossible... The lack of build times is why I enjoy hacking around with Python so much compared to the C++ I do at work, instant results to my code changes is very satisfying and addictive. The large build times that seem so common in C++ make not being distracted nearly impossible…

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By: Max Burke/2011/03/12/on-builds/#comment-1546 Max Burke Sun, 13 Mar 2011 08:05:55 +0000 I didn't mean the code itself not supporting precompiled headers but their use not being feasible for other reasons. For example, one project I worked on used LLVM and my team was iterating on it to clean up the code it was generating and adapt it for the slightly different console ABIs. But because it was largely externally developed and we were still integrating from their head revision regularly it wasn't an option to hack it up to support precompiled headers. I didn’t mean the code itself not supporting precompiled headers but their use not being feasible for other reasons. For example, one project I worked on used LLVM and my team was iterating on it to clean up the code it was generating and adapt it for the slightly different console ABIs. But because it was largely externally developed and we were still integrating from their head revision regularly it wasn’t an option to hack it up to support precompiled headers.

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By: snake5/2011/03/12/on-builds/#comment-1530 snake5 Sat, 12 Mar 2011 13:48:12 +0000 I can't say that long build times are good per se, but blaming a productivity loss on build times is a bit one-sided. Might just as well blame it on the number of bugs you produce in your code; write less buggy code, and you won't need to build as often. Or on your ability to switch focus between different tasks, when one of them forces you to wait. I'm not trying to suggest that what you're saying is wrong... far from it. I just think that talking about build times is taking the easy way out, namely blaming something external from you. A good craftsman doesn't blame his tools. I can’t say that long build times are good per se, but blaming a productivity loss on build times is a bit one-sided.

Might just as well blame it on the number of bugs you produce in your code; write less buggy code, and you won’t need to build as often. Or on your ability to switch focus between different tasks, when one of them forces you to wait.

I’m not trying to suggest that what you’re saying is wrong… far from it. I just think that talking about build times is taking the easy way out, namely blaming something external from you. A good craftsman doesn’t blame his tools.

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By: snake5/2011/03/12/on-builds/#comment-1524 snake5 Sat, 12 Mar 2011 07:20:33 +0000