163
votes
Novice programmer(s) frustrated by lack of a glossary of compiler errors
A few useful techniques:
Turn on -Wall and -Werror. It might seem counterintuitive when you're struggling with deciphering error messages to create even more error messages, but the warnings are ...
- 148k
56
votes
Novice programmer(s) frustrated by lack of a glossary of compiler errors
Your friend does not need a glossary. A glossary will not help him. What he needs is better intuition about what to do when compiler errors occur.
C compiler errors are not as intuitive as, say, C# ...
- 200k
27
votes
Novice programmer(s) frustrated by lack of a glossary of compiler errors
A relevant technique worth mentioning is using a second compiler. Clang has invested in better error messages, for instance, but any alternative way to phrase the error can be enlightening.
This is ...
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13
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Novice programmer(s) frustrated by lack of a glossary of compiler errors
Someone made an attempt at a GCC error glossary on Wikibooks a while ago, but it looks like it never quite took off and hasn't been updated.
The "Errors" section is much further along than the "...
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12
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Novice programmer(s) frustrated by lack of a glossary of compiler errors
In addition to the above answers, note that most compilers don't have comprehensive error glossaries -- these would be a lot of work to maintain as the messages themselves often change, and there are ...
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8
votes
How to determine ROI on developer training?
When dealing with management everyone suggest framing the problem in the context of money, ROI, etc. And that has indeed the largest chances of success. But not in this case. The problem here is you ...
- 3,640
6
votes
Novice programmer(s) frustrated by lack of a glossary of compiler errors
The C Standard uses a number of terms like "lvalue" and "object" in ways that are different from other programming languages, and compiler messages are often written in such terms. The use of ...
- 8,609
5
votes
Novice programmer(s) frustrated by lack of a glossary of compiler errors
I'm surprised no one gave the obvious answer and, I suspect, the one most often used in practice: just don't read the error messages.
The vast majority of the value of most error messages is simply ...
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4
votes
Novice programmer(s) frustrated by lack of a glossary of compiler errors
Another technique would be for the friend to write his own glossary over time as he encounters different error messages. Often the best way to learn something is to teach it. Of course, by the time ...
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4
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Novice programmer(s) frustrated by lack of a glossary of compiler errors
So, how should a novice programmer approach the challenge of understanding compiler error messages? Specifically, with the combination of C and GCC?
Tell your friend to do the following when ...
- 844
2
votes
Accepted
How to determine ROI on developer training?
Your real problem may be your management at least claims it is important, but you conclude that it isn't because they don't do anything. I think you need to take additional steps to make this happen (...
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1
vote
Accepted
How do I measure the effectiveness of training for a new software testing tool?
Write down some performance targets before training starts.
Assign a homework problem at the end of each (hopefully short) training session.
Evaluate performance on each one, including elapsed man ...
- 7,605
1
vote
Accepted
Evolving thought process and design thinking
How would you implement a StringBuilder class from scratch?
By thinking very seriously about why I have to implement StringBuilder from scratch.
The proper reaction to that question is to ask "why?"...
- 115k
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