Naivegamer
166782
4181
101
FP Edit: Don't send me things, it's okay. Instead go to Sendkidstheworld.com and send a letter or post card to a sick child. I've got a post about it on my profile. Feel free to use it for addresses and such. I'm specifically asking you guys not to upvote that one. I don't want to make points off of sick kids. Just want to get the word out.
CantNOPwontNOP
"Cardboard cutout programmer": where you call someone over to help with a problem, and find the solution without them saying a single word.
UnknownGeek
My dad calls it the teddy bear theory, he keeps a little bear on the top of his monitor for this purpose
ImHereJustToFavouriteStuff
I learn to do this using an "office plant". It's also funny grabbing a friend saying "I need you to be my office plant" without context.
ruferto
also why some programmers keep action figures on their desk and mumble to themselves
killernerd
i prefer discussing it with a colleague most of the time. But yes, the simple act of explaining something is often enough to trigger a "duh"
Clockworkdancerobot
Shibboleet.
KingOfTheImgurians
Been programming for decades. Have a small, yellow rubber duck on my desk at work right now.
SpakkieSpookie
For me; you need to actively waste someone’s time for this to work. They can glance at you like a mute, but their time must be wasted.
MonsoonPoultryHospital
Husband is literally talking to a rubber duck about an email system problem right now.
CISMaleScumLord
If you don't have a rubber handy, use an intern, but they do make more of a mess when they bounce off the wall
CISMaleScumLord
* duck
Honeybadger2198
I use my friends and they probably hate me for it.
toffeecoffee
KammySutra
well now i'm buying a rubber duck to help with my coding...
RealScienceMan
Here in physics the ultimate duck is called a "postdoc" they seem like real people but don't be fooled, it's a transient state.
godofhorizons
"Postduck"
beerbatteredkush
This method works for solving most problems your stuck on
JeremyBeadlesHands
This. Explaining it forces you to fully understand each and every step. I just ask colleagues to help, and find the problem as i explain it
peoplecalltheromanstheygothehouse
All of my employees have RDs. It doesn't just work for code, it works for anything where you can get "stuck"
KayRaven
Learned about this on Discord. I do it when I just KNOW there's a plot hole in my book, but I can't find it, and oh, there it is. 1/2
KayRaven
Like when I had this idea for a Chekhov's gun that was a pocketknife Hunter used to kill the villain, and it was supposed to be this keep2/3
KayRaven
-sake from years ago and I NEVER ACTUALLY SHOWED HER GETTING THE DARN THING. Fixed now.
pupillit
In out office programmers use each other as rubber ducks, creating the weirdest environment of quiet artists and super talkative programmers
IAmTheRealUpvoter
I use Lego figures. R2D2 for ai problems. Darth Vader is my homeboy.
Gasnia
Does the emperor tell you to burn them all?
Sqwuid
I used Baby Sheepie because I could never hurt her, and could only explain nicely like I was teaching a child...
imadownvoteyouhard999
Yeah but if you get mad and throw it, your foot will pay for it later
Rabidwoodchuck1119
i have a tattoo with 2 ducks. Former coworker would use me to add to power of Duck Council on bad cases. Usually worked too.
Naivegamer
I think I know what my next tattoo should be lol. Thanks for the idea.
philipesan123
I do this with my Dr.Doom figure ...
FluentPenguin
I kinda feel sorry for the quack quack. Just getting yelled at and flung against walls. Give the lil dude a compliment now and again
spiffynidd
My coworkers think I'm nuts cause I do this a lot.
babylonhoose
Plot twist: You are a police officer.
spiffynidd
I...kind of was? Prison admin, and Martian Manhunter heroclix was my duck
JoelsPerfectBabybackRibs
Whatever works man
Dispeptique
My boyfriend is a programmer and he explained me this technique. He sometimes uses me as a rubber duck.
mistermystery
I assume there's also something in there about making bathtime lots of fun?
Boomboomyeahshaketheroom
You are a good girlfriend. girlFriend++
HerrFraeulein
Nudge nudge, wink wink
Dispeptique
Say no more !
xiongmao1337
I do this with my wife. She just let's me rant about something until I solve the problem. Then she says "you're welcome".
Ispentthelastfewyearsbuildingupanimmunitytoiocanepowder
So it works because it helps to say things out loud?
Naivegamer
Pretty much. Explaining something makes you more likely to catch mistakes. Like when you read an email out loud to ensure it makes sense.
Ispentthelastfewyearsbuildingupanimmunitytoiocanepowder
I'm going to do this with my first graders!
mistermystery
When you have to break things down so even a duck could understand, you tend to approach from a different angle than your cleverness that (1
mistermystery
made the mistake in the first place.
WhatsThatOnTheFloor
I have used this technique for years and quite frankly, it works. I have a huge duck for this exact purpose.
Chriso325
I appreciate the Arthur Weasley reference
reacata
Omg <3
OaksParcel
I went to the comments thinking I was the only one.
Chriso325
CommunCreator
Pretty sure this predates the books.
Chriso325
Im just referring to the one reblog "so that's the function of a rubber duck" which is a pretty straight forward reference to the HP line
KroniK907
And tumblr being tumblr, there is very little chance that it wasn't meant as a direct quote.
KroniK907
??
Chriso325
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets reference - https://youtu.be/XHi3aohNPTw?t=20s
ShelleyBaldwin271
https://airving2013.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/weasley.jpg
djangojazz
"Who wrote this horrid code?!"! "Oh that was me six months ago..."
Sheepyhead
Alternatively: "Oh that was Jim 6 years ago, he's gone now"
PseudoDoc
More like 30 mins ago
DarksteelPenguin
Or 3 hours ago...
djangojazz
Depends on the day I guess and how well I know the technology. Lately it's Angular 5 and Typescript with Core 2 so I am learning as I go.
tgetzoya
Am programmer, can confirm.
anubis4567
Was a programming major. Now supply chain. Still do this. Coworkers think I'm insane.
namAehT
If I ever become a CS professor, I'm going to buy a shit ton of rubber ducks and give them to incoming Computer Science majors.
dickblack12
"Hey Bill. Can you come be my rubber duck for a minute...."
NeverEnoughFoxes
This was 95% or what I did aS a help desk worker. Program no work? Show me what you did. Works now? Ok!
K1ltu
Double confirm
TicoGuy
I'm Starting to think all Engineers do this. Except it's not always ducks, I did it with a Lego Hulk.
tgetzoya
I usually do it with other developers....
TheFatDaddy
Is this for FUCKING real? That's awesome. I can't do much to vent at a gas station
olegh
Am engineer, can also confirm that articulating a problem often helps
BoltActionGearbox
Confirmed here as well
PillowFortPolice
As someone with an extensive rubber duck collection, can confirm. I have over 100
Aypie
Do you explain to each one of them?
PillowFortPolice
Oh no I'm not a programmer. U tell one person u like rubber ducks in 6th grade and suddenly everyone thinks they should get u one.
Retromorphic
My name is rubberduck. No one has bought me a duck. I would talk to it all day if I had one :(
MagpieNI
As a prospective programmer, does this mean I should get a rubber duck?
tgetzoya
Yes
Gilllt
If you wanna go pro, yes. It does actually really help tho
sourcelessgifsandunopenedsafes
Not necessarily a rubber duck, but it helps to get in the habit of explaining the problem to an inanimate object. 1/2
sourcelessgifsandunopenedsafes
I have a github octocat model that I use instead of a rubber duck 2/2
Elorex
Any advice for prospective programmers trying to get in?
Elorex
Ie. Schools vs Boot Camps vs Self Taught, general advice, conditions of work force, etc?
tgetzoya
Make sure you love the work. You'll be competing with those who do.
Elorex
I love programming, nothing else even compares.
tgetzoya
Good. Then pick front end or back end development. Pick a language and have at it until you're good
AGreatNameForARockBand
Step one: get a rubber duck
Elorex
Does a Plush Octopus count? I use it all the time.
dronir
"I just don't see the problem here. This line is supposed to… and then this line… oh wait now I see it."
kneetothearrow
ThrowAwayAcct0000
They say you never truly understand something until you teach it (successfully) to someone else.
LithiumGrease
honestly one of the most useful things i learned in HS was when going over something i wrote to read it aloud when proofreading u find more
ShadusMacAoidh
I find changing the width and rereading helps, if you can't read out loud... for reasons. The shift in formatting makes your brain focus.
dronir
Yeah, I really got that when I was a teaching assistant at various university courses for many years.
Narwhaligator
(5 minutes later) "uh Tim why is there a duck shaped hole in the wall?"
SecondSince
"You know, problem solving."
AtsaMattaForYou
ir0nthef
junji itto man. love
veryhuman
This guy writes some creepy shit. Although sometimes ridiculous.
Aprana
http://brasscockroach.com/h4ll0w33n2007/manga/Amigara-Full/Amigara.html for anyone interested
PhoeniixHearts
.
JudgeRaptor
.
Hybris51129
AstartesLibrarius
Word of warning, if this is what I think it is, it's definitely Not Safe For Sanity.
haveanothergif
Confirmed. My sanity is now unsafe.
Ohgodtheyrealltaken
HighImpactSexualViolence
So after reading you still wanna thrust into that hole?