How to Organize Ideas #2: What to write

Hi, it is Dr. NISHIO Hirokazu. This is my second entry on how to organize ideas. In my previous entry I explained about the concept: "Write first". By thinking on paper, you can reduce the cost to remember ideas. So you can think more efficient than to think in your head.

Today I will explain about "what to write". When you have to create new ideas, you may try to write new ideas themselves. It is not a good way. Thomas Edison said, "Some people think perfect ideas can be born, but it is not correct. Ideas are born incompletely and then brush them up." I'm sorry but I read the quote in Japanese book, so words are not same as he said. If you are interested in it, read the "Your Creative Power" by Alex F. Osborn's, the father of brainstorming.

In other words, you can't write complete ideas. Don't try to do it. You can only write incomplete pieces of ideas. Do not be a perfectionist.

You may try to write something related to the subject. It is also a kind of perfectionism. James Webb Young said, "an idea is nothing more nor less than a new combination of old elements." So, before you find an idea as a new combination, you don't know what elements will combine. You can not know whether things are related to the subject before you get new ideas. Don't try to write what is related to the subject. Instead of that, write anything that comes to your mind. It may be related to the subject.

Steve Jobs said “You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”I think it is a similar concept.

Next time I'll describe about a nice framework when you want to find a solution for some problems. I use it in the workshop at the Kyoto University Summer Design School and it works better than I expected. See you next time!

How to Organize Ideas #1: Write first

Hi, it is Dr. NISHIO Hirokazu. I have given several presentations about "how to organize ideas" in Japanese. It seems to be good for English speakers too. So I start to translate them into English.

Today I introduce a concept "write first". Why we should write first? Imagine whether it is easier to do calculations on paper or to do calculations in your head. Yes, the former is easier. Because you don't have to remember numbers, you can use your brain power efficiently.

To organize ideas, it is the same. If you don't write your thoughts on paper, you can't use your brain efficiently. So, at first, write everything in your brain, then organize them. That is the important concept.

I wrote the draft of the diary in 2 minutes in Japanese and then wrote the diary in 25 minutes in English. It is time to finish. Next time I'll write about "what to write".

Keynote speech on PyCon JP 2014

I gave keynote speech on PyCon JP 2014 4 days ago.

Here is the movie recorded, but it is in Japanese and simultaneous translation was not recorded: CH10 Opening~Keynote: Hirokazu Nishio - YouTube

So I translated my slide and added explanations. Here is the English version: PyConJP Keynote Speech (English version)

If you are interested in, here is the original Japanese version: PyConJP Keynote Speech (Japanese version)

You are welcome to ask any questions!

What is better to call "hand-copying sample codes"?

If someone is learning new language and he/she feel difficult to understand textbook, I recommend to type small sample codes in tutorial by hands.

This learning methodology is called 'Shakyo' in Japanese, named after a practice of hand-copying sutras. (Sutras for Buddhist is similar to the Bible for Christian, see Sutra copying - Wikipedia)

However there are some people with opposite view. The original Shakyo practice include to empty his/her mind. That means Shakyo as programming practice must include to empty mind. Hand-copying sample code in empty mind is not good practice for learning programming, we should think a lot.

I think the word Shakyo causes misunderstanding. But I have no idea to replace it. Do you have any idea for that? Please tell me your opinion.

My book was translated and published in Chinese!

Here is the page of the book: 人民邮电出版社优秀图书：代码之髓：编程语言核心概念 图灵程序设计丛书.

The book was published in Japanese on 2013, published in Korean on this March. If you are interested in English version, please check this page: Programming Langueges: Their Core Concepts.

"Process to make an idea real is simple labor work..."

Takashi Murakami said "Process to make an idea real is simple labor work. So you should check by yourself carefully if the theme is worth to do labor work"

I found the quote on 2011 and tweeted in Japanese. Curiously it was retweeted in these days by a lot of people, so I translated it now.

Translation of my book is in progress

Hi, it is Dr. NISHIO Hirokazu. I published a book on April 2013 in Japan. It was the bestseller in Amazon programming category and it was the bestseller among computer related books published in 2013.

Here is the table of contents: Programming Langueges: Their Core Concepts

It was translated to Korean. Now the book is been translated to English!

You can read drafts of chapter 1 and 2 on GitHub: https://github.com/nishio/langbook