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Would you mind expanding on this a little? These websites look like version control / project management systems, how does one jump into the "public" projects you're talking about?
It's simple. I'll show on one example.
I was interested in Sphinx search server, so I've decided to do its protocol implementation in javascript (for node.js).
I've created project on github and got remote URL. Then I've created folder on local disk and started coding. Reverse-enginereed PHP Sphinx connector, written some JS code, commited it to local Git repo. Next step: add remote URL to git repo. After this I can push my changes to Github with "git push remote master", where "master" is the branch name. And voila, project is on the Github.
Then I write some more code and get first working prototype. I announced it in node.js Google group to attract another developers to project. They watch, comment on commits (not often) and send pull requests for code via Github (more often). Then I decide if I need the patch and apply / modify+apply / decline patch. Someone can fork my project if they feel I won't add some feature they need or I'm too lazy updating the code.
Basically, that's it.
I know someone IRL who was having that problem. They modified their computer so that they were simply unable to access certain sites*. I believe it involved having the browser block certain IP addresses but I can't really remember. *It was possible to undo this but it took far to much work for a stalling activity.
Ha, I've written delaying proxy for this just like in xkcd.
In response to
The True Rejection Challenge
Procrastination is making me miss a lot of opportunities. Up to and including (in progress): having a chance at anchoring myself in a first-world country vs blowing it and having to return to eastern Europe.
Barriers:
High initial anxiety when sitting down to start a project. Related to #2.
Low confidence in own abilities after so many mediocre last-minute solutions in the past.
No social support - no friends interested in programming.
Additional anxiety due to being behind schedule with 3-4 items - article, internship work, internship report, learning a framework to try and get a job at company I'm interning at. Also, haven't made proper Plan B, C arrangements in case I don't get the job (again due to anxiety).
It's this annoying vicious circle of anxiety and procrastination I can't seem to get out of. Any takers? PJ Eby's comments on akrasia were interesting, but we go back to the issue of bootstrapping enough motivation/confidence to do the actions required to get the ball rolling.
1, 2, 3 - You can get into opensource social coding like Github or Bitbucket. This will improve your coding skills and make you some coder friends to help with tough questions (worked for me). Time constraint is harder to deal with.
Ask someone to look over your shoulder at random times but maybe once per 10min on average.
Hm, I don't want to distract even more people from their duties, but this may work. I'll see what I can do.
Still, more ideas are welcome.
In response to
The True Rejection Challenge
I want to lower my "off-topic" Internet usage when I'm on work.
What do I have now:
- No penalties for surfing Reddit if the work is done on time
- RescueTime for counting hours I spend on work and hours I spend on various lolcats (right now my efficiency is 0.5, which mean ~ 1 hour of reddit per 1.6 hours of work)
Why I want to do that? To have more time for my own projects and work.
What's keeping me from doing that:
- I'm afraid to burn out doing only the programming-related stuff.
- Some sites are just addictive (yes, Reddit, I'm looking at you).
- I'm slightly tired from two years long project (I'm going to vacation in less than 1 month).
When I run an old 8 bit game on a Commodore-64 emulator it seems to me that the emulation functionally reproduces a Commodore-64. The experience of playing the game can clearly be faithfully reproduced.
Hasn't something been reproduced if one cannot tell the difference between the operation of the original system and that of the simulation?
In case of C64 emulator, the game is represented, your experience is reproduced. As for second, I think it's purely subjectional as it depends on what level of output you expect from simulation. For gamer the emulator game can be "reproduction", for engineer that seek some details on inner workings of Commodore it can be just an approximation of "real thing" and of no use for him.
In response to
Eight questions for computationalists
Okay, here's my answers. Please take note that full answers will be too big, so expect some vagueness:
1) B 3) Big topic For me, It can use result of "computation". 4) Invoking memory or associations? Mostly no. 5) Hard to say yet. I'll take a guess that it's mostly functions, with maybe some parts where steps really matter. 6) I think it's possible. 7) I guess so. 8) They have something in common, but I think it depends on your definition of "conscious". They are most certainly not self-conscious, though.
We may be talking at cross-purposes. Are you arguing that if someone says something I find offensive, it is more productive for me to respond in the form of "You are a bad person for saying that and I demand an apology?" than "I'm sorry, but I was really hurt by your statement and I request you not make it again"?
Maybe the most productive variant is just to ignore the offender/offence?
On a slightly unrelated note, one psychologist I know has demonstrated me that sometimes it's more useful to agree with offence on the spot, whatever it is, and just continue with conversation. So I think in some situations this too may be a viable option.
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Dr. Ian Malcolm, "Jurassic Park"