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If Carpenters Were Hired Like Programmers (2004)

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Resurfaced independently across 2 calendar years, with breakout response in 2 of them.

submissions
3
submitters
3
observed span
2014–2017
peak thread · 118 comments
260 pts
latest 20+ return · 2017-09-07
260 pts

Submission timeline

2007–2026

One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.

First comments on top threads

HN comment order

The equivalent the other way. If programmers hired like carpenters are hired made a table: "How long will it take to make this table?" "3 weeks. But we're going to try using this new kind of leg because it's easier to replace with another leg if you don't like it. So it may take 5 weeks." 5 weeks pass "Is the table done?" "Well, no, not really. But now you can have four different legs if you want to. We've…

arjie·260-point thread·

These days you would be asked to draw a picture of a hammer pounding in a nail on a whiteboard. The interviewer would say, "this isn't about drawing," but if your hammer looks like a dinosaur you're not going to get the job unless you learned carpentry at Stanford.

me2i81·136-point thread·

The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.

Breakout years
2

100+ points or 50+ comments

Total points
398

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Total comments
157

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Every submission

DateTitle as submittedByPointsComments
2014-05-30If Carpenters Were Hired Like ProgrammersFirst breakoutohjeez13639
2017-04-12If Carpenters Were Hired Like Programmers (2013)shubhamjain20
2017-09-07If Carpenters Were Hired Like Programmers (2004)Best thread · Latest 20+ point returnyankcrime260118