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Topic starter
2020-01-06 12:31 pm
Good video but a long time overdue!
This video may be "old hat" or second nature for intermediate users, but absolutely essential for the noobs. At least we more experienced members now have a place to point new members joining, who claim they have just got their first Arduino, have downloaded some sketch from somewhere and it doesn't work! It seems to me that there are a lot of people jumping straight in without giving a thought to learn what they need to start.
You only have to sift through the Introduction sections to realise this happens a lot.
Perhaps a short video for the noobs on essential requirements to start their adventure. For instance, basic C++ and first steps with the Arduino. I am sure that we all would accept a small digression.
And for the rest of us, you could add a health warning, like the one on cigarette packets!
WARNING: This video could bore the s**t out of you!
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2020-01-06 3:53 pm
I get SO many questions about people projects not working and I can see right away that they haven't even taken the basic troubleshooting steps, which is why I created it. It got tiring replying and asking the most basic questions in order to assist them.
Of course, that's not universally true, I also get emails from people who took the time to troubleshoot but got stuck. I'm generally willing to respond to those ones, as sometimes having a second set of eyeballs on a problem can help you fix it.
I can see the need for basic ones as well. One of the comments I had on a website article was from someone who wanted to build the project but needed to know "how to get the code onto the Arduino". And I'm certainly NOT trying to belittle them, as everyone needs to start somewhere. But it illustrates the need for a few basic lessons as well.
And after that, we can move on to more advanced stuff, like "How to Build a Time Machine with an Arduino and a Flux Capacitor".
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Bill
"Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window." — Steve Wozniak
2020-01-06 4:00 pm
Flux Capacitor! Yikes, what size and are they in stock at Digi-Key? LOL
And on a serious note, do you refer them to the Forum to get their help. There are more of us here that could devote some time to helping instead of you having to take the time. We can all become mentors, or as us Hams like to say "Elmers!"
SteveG
Topic starter
2020-01-06 4:01 pm
I loved the flow chart! That is exactly how I started. I recently threw away a book on Cobol and Fortran that was full of these flow charts. I even owned a Staedtler stencil for drawing them but I have no idea where that has gone, I think it is in mathematical heaven with my slide rule!
Topic starter
2020-01-06 4:13 pm
And on a serious note, do you refer them to the Forum to get their help.
No! I usually tell them to buy "C++ for Dummies" or some other book at that level.
Most noobs are seeking "instant gratification" without the slogging!
got their first Arduino, have downloaded some sketch from somewhere and it doesn't work!
I helped one guy on here who described his problem exactly as above! It was easier to rewrite his code and explain it, and a lot less time consuming (only 15 mins) than to spend hours back and forth doing piece by piece correction.
Only later did I realise that he had started another 3 threads with other topics and had enlisted the help of others, using the same basic argument again!
I concluded that he was not willing to learn and I stopped getting involved if I felt I was just being used!
2020-01-06 4:24 pm
All very valid points. What's that old adage: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink!
And I can possibly lay hands on my first slide rule, but like you I have no idea where the Staedtler stencil got off to.
SteveG
Topic starter
2020-01-06 4:29 pm
Another old adage is:
"Yesterday I couldn't even spell Engingeer and today I is one!" ? ? ?
2020-01-06 4:53 pm
I loved the flow chart!
Your comments reminded me of a program called Flowgorithm.
It converts a simple flowchart into different languages.
http://www.flowgorithm.org/
2020-01-06 5:43 pm
And on a serious note, do you refer them to the Forum to get their help. There are more of us here that could devote some time to helping instead of you having to take the time.
You win the prize for guessing the REAL reason I set up the forum in the first place!
I was hoping to defer all of those questions to the forum and get them out of my inbox. So I could spend my time making videos, writing articles and working on the workbench. Instead of answering emails!
You guys have "fallen into my trap" but as you all seem to enjoy helping one another it's a win-win situation!
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BTW, this week I'll be spending as much time doing exactly that, so you may not see me on here too often. I've been working on DB1 boards for most of the morning, later today I'll be setting up experiments for tomorrow's recording session.
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"Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window." — Steve Wozniak
2020-01-06 5:50 pm
I helped one guy on here who described his problem exactly as above! It was easier to rewrite his code and explain it, and a lot less time consuming (only 15 mins) than to spend hours back and forth doing piece by piece correction.
Only later did I realise that he had started another 3 threads with other topics and had enlisted the help of others, using the same basic argument again!
I concluded that he was not willing to learn and I stopped getting involved if I felt I was just being used!
That's really a shame, after taking your time to assist him.
One of my "pet peeves" is getting letters from students who literally want me to do their homework! "Please design an Arduino circuit and code and send it right away, my assignment is due on Friday"! I'm not kidding, I've received a bunch of those. Try and guess how quickly I responded.
Call me old-fashioned, but I was under the impression that you went to school to LEARN how to do things and develop useful skills. But again, I guess delegating your tasks is a useful skill.
Hopefully, the experience hasn't soured you to assisting others, some people are genuinely appreciative of it and just might need so assistance understanding concepts that are new to them.
But don't do their homework for them!
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Bill
"Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window." — Steve Wozniak
Topic starter
2020-01-06 6:01 pm
One of my "pet peeves" is getting letters from students who literally want me to do their homework! "Please design an Arduino circuit and code and send it right away, my assignment is due on Friday"! I'm not kidding, I've received a bunch of those. Try and guess how quickly I responded.
I think I saw that on the forum too! Most of the members who posted something similar have come and gone like shifting sands. Unfortunately, more will come. I am sure that the majority of members are willing to help where they can!
I don't know whether you saw it but one noob recently posted that he had a 110V AC light chain and wanted to know how to power it with 6 and 3V batteries, he was lucky not to have got a good dose of sarcasm.
Anybody who figures that out will get a Nobel Prize for Physics.
2020-01-06 6:44 pm
Pro Tip : When your circuit/sketch goes wrong, check if guy with a bue T-shirt came into your lab and moved a jumper wire on your breadboard !
Eric
2020-01-06 8:01 pm
I don't know whether you saw it but one noob recently posted that he had a 110V AC light chain and wanted to know how to power it with 6 and 3V batteries, he was lucky not to have got a good dose of sarcasm.
Was it this one?
https://forum.dronebotworkshop.com/introductions/another-old-guy/#post-6515
He indicated they were mini bulbs or LEDs which meant low power and their voltage requirement may have been very low but being powered via a transformer plugged into an 110v ac socket. Also he didn't say using a single 6 volt battery meaning you could have used a bank of batteries for whatever voltage/current was required.
Usually I have found the most annoying question simply lacks sufficient detail and a long interrogation is required to elicit the detail required to answer it.
2020-01-06 9:21 pm
Asking others to do the work for them is what bad managers do! And then they micro-manage whatever they have you doing for them. At least that was what I experienced. And "was" is the key word! Retired and loving it!! I got up early this morning with nothing to do, and by 9:00 AM or so I was almost done!!!
SteveG
Topic starter
2020-01-07 7:32 am
@casey
He indicated they were mini bulbs or LEDs which meant low power and their voltage requirement may have been very low but being powered via a transformer plugged into an 110v ac socket.
He did not mention a drop down transformer in his post, this is an assumption on your part. It is quite possible that he has an array of LEDs powered directly from the mains. I have a cheap LED ceiling lamp in my bathroom that I bought at IKEA, over 70 LEDs in series with a current dropping resistor, and not transformer that I can see.
When two people assume different things only goes to prove how ambiguous a problem can be if the problem description is not precise enough. One omission can lead to a totally different interpretation.
And these omissions are quite common among the noobs joining this forum for a quick fix to a problem.