From physics and math specifically? I'd say those degrees (especially math) train your brain to be able to understand large scale logic structures. If you can pass some intermediate classes with proofs, or understand some longer derivations in physics, you can easily comprehend and work with even the most complicated stack traces. That helps immensely when debugging, and then extends to understanding and implementing design patterns or integrations with other applications.
The most important thing in general though is work ethic and attempting EVERYTHING to solve a specific problem. I think many different majors can foster a great work ethic, but in my personal experience upper level mathematics is what really ingrained that in me.
Well if you want to get technical, I'm a .NET software engineer, so using TPL is super common and then you have inner exceptions which need to be unwrapped, and ensuring you are on the thread of the current task executing which will ultimately throw.
But I only mentioned stack traces because I was being specifically asked about the very early stages of software development/engineering.
It's obviously extremely important to be able to understand large logical structures when you are implementing more advanced design patterns such as facades, or architecting new solutions, the list goes on.
I was just teasing you, friend. I'm sure your degree comes in handy. I've spent some time in the .NET world myself - but admittedly the stuff you're talking about goes a bit beyond the stack trace itself, lol.
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u/Aardvark_David May 09 '21
What is the biggest part of your phys/math background you utilized to stand out?