For Mentors Only: Inspiring Youth

[Rick TYler]

Sometimes, I think a small rubber mallet would be just the thing...

Mentor: Why don't you program 127 speed as a special case -- your driving code takes too long to return to stop when the user just lets go of the joystick.

Student: NO! If I write the code to handle all cases properly, it should handle that, too.

Mentor: The acceleration curves look good, except when the driver wants to stop dead. Why not program 127 as a special case?

Student: NO SPECIAL CASES! That's a hack. I want to do it right.

Mentor: We have to ship the robot in two weeks. Don't you think you should just call this a win and program the aiming algorithm? I think three weeks on the driving code is enough.

Student: NO! I know what's wrong -- just one more change!

Mentor: Just program 127 as a special case, and let's hook up the camera.

Student: NO! I know I can do it!

etc.

Kind of makes me think I should take up bull riding instead.

Any other instructional student/mentor interactions?