Kyle Davis

I have a theory about people who develop software.

Let's say you got a lego kit when you were a kid.
Did you follow the instructions to build the kit or just use the bits for your own purpose?

EDIT: so, a lot of you have said things like 'followed the instructions once - how do I answers?' I guess answer what motivated you to want the lego set in the first place: the model (i.e. following instructions) or the bits.

Not a developer: followed instructions
15.4%
Not a developer: used the bits for own purpose.
4.6%
Developer: followed instructions
47.7%
Developer: used the bits for own purpose.
32.3%
Poll ended at .
Dec 19, 2024 at 8:33pmWeb
Show threadKyle DavisDec 20, 2024

So: my theory went out the window.

I was going to guess developers would be mostly in the "used the bits for own purpose" category like me.

I know as a kid I would go find the kit with the best bits, and literally throw the instructions in the bin within minutes of getting home.

Oh well. 🤷

Show threadfreeformz 🏳️‍🌈Dec 20, 2024
@linux_mclinuxface always follow the instructions the first time. After that - build whatever.
Show threadKyle DavisDec 20, 2024

@freeformz I got a lot of that response.

I recall being older and helping my younger cousin put together a kit and watching him follow the instructions carefully and thinking "really? people _use_ those?"

Show threadChris Huck  Dec 21, 2024
@linux_mclinuxface I never got any #Lego sets as a kid. However, I received #Construx and an #Erector set. In both cases, I built all of the things in the instructions, which is how I learned how the pieces interact. However, I later learned that some of the pieces in the Erector set fit with the Construx… So, from then on, I combined the two into lots of my own creations. I often wish I still had some of both to recreate the cool stuff I made as a kid.
Show threadChris Huck  Dec 21, 2024
These days, I find myself buying Lego sets for others, but not for myself. I think #FreeCAD and a 3D printer is my #Lego.
Show threadamdDec 21, 2024
@chrishuck this feels so true.
Show threadKyle DavisDec 21, 2024

@chrishuck huh. I had no idea that construx interacted with erector sets. I had a little bit of erector stuff.

(Also, several folks have brought up construx… I thought it was obscure! Guess not, at least here!)

Show threadamdDec 21, 2024

@linux_mclinuxface I missed your poll but I find it interesting.

I would follow instructions once. Usually blow through it in an afternoon.

Then I’d strip it for parts and build my own thing

Show threadJago NissiDec 21, 2024

@linux_mclinuxface But you got a statistically significant difference. 25% of "not a developer"s said they use parts for own purposes, but if I read the numbers correctly, it was 40% for developers.

If anything, this reinforces the theory that this could be _more common_ among developers. =P

Show threadEmily_SDec 19, 2024
@linux_mclinuxface followed the instructions once. Then the bits went back into the pile and got used to make many new things.
Show threadGina HäußgeDec 19, 2024
@emily_s @linux_mclinuxface This. Thus unsure what to choose here 😅 (also: developer)
Show threadPaul Turnbull has moved.🇨🇦Dec 19, 2024

@linux_mclinuxface I seem to remember doing some kits when I was a kid but mostly I just had a giant bucket of lego I used to build what I wanted. So, yes a followed the instructions at least once but after that I likely built what I wanted.

So my answer would be "Developer: followed instructions at least once, then built what I wanted”

Show threadMegDec 19, 2024
@Chigaze @linux_mclinuxface yeah same for me.
Show threadAmelia Bellamy-Royds Dec 19, 2024

@megmac @Chigaze @linux_mclinuxface I don't think I ever had Lego kits (there were some bought for my older sister, but it was all a big bin by my time), but I personally find it sad that Lego seems to have turned into 3D jigsaw puzzle kits instead of free-form creativity tools.

Like, I understand why the company wants it that way: They want you to buy more for each project instead of re-using pieces. But it's not the same.

Show threadKyle DavisDec 19, 2024

@AmeliasBrain @megmac @Chigaze it’s also easier for them to do licensed stuff: if they make a Star Wars kit they can sell to Lego and Star Wars geeks.

Can’t do that with just bits.

Show threadPaul Turnbull has moved.🇨🇦Dec 19, 2024
@linux_mclinuxface @AmeliasBrain @megmac To be fair while their front line marketing is the kits you can still by straight blocks of all types. I know a number of people with large block collections.
Show threadKyle DavisDec 19, 2024

@Chigaze @AmeliasBrain @megmac very true. The kits are just so much more marketable and marketed.

To put it another way: A bucket of bricks is something you buy for yourself, a kit is something someone buys for you.

Show threadMegDec 19, 2024

@linux_mclinuxface @Chigaze @AmeliasBrain I definitely mostly got kits when I was a kid but to be honest Lego wasn't my biggest "building block toy." I was actually way more into Construx (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construx), and a lot more of my freestyle building was with those (though they were also kits). It kinda seems like, even aside from the bigger emphasis on branded stuff, there's also a big loss of variety of this kind of alternative building toy.

Either way when I was a kid I don't think most of the kits were branded ones. They were mostly just generic space ships and castles and towns. I kinda wonder if that also still felt more freeform-able since "Lego Millennium Falcon" feels a lot more shelf worthy than "Lego Space Ship no.204".

Construx - Wikipedia

Show threadKyle DavisDec 20, 2024

@megmac @Chigaze @AmeliasBrain oh man, I had some construx but were definitely a lego family. I recall building rather gigantic swords with construx. We’d fight with them and they fall to bits in a satisfying crunch upon impact.

We also had quite a few Capsela as well but I understand that was rather obscure.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsela

Capsela - Wikipedia

Show threadMegDec 20, 2024
@linux_mclinuxface @Chigaze @AmeliasBrain definitely one of the best things about construx was how you could build really big, but fairly stable, things. I mostly made space ships lol.
Show threadDaveography 🇨🇦Dec 20, 2024

@megmac @linux_mclinuxface @Chigaze @AmeliasBrain

Oh, wow, Construx! I had a bunch of those, too, I'd totally forgotten about them. Yeah, they were amazing for building large, stable structures.

My Lego collection was mostly space-themed, too, and I did build to the instructions first and then later mix and match to build my own stuff.

I don't remember being particularly creative, though, and often rebuilt the kits a few times.

Show threadDaveography 🇨🇦Dec 20, 2024

@Chigaze @linux_mclinuxface @AmeliasBrain @megmac

There are still a lot of current Lego series that are unbranded and easy to remix into new creations, like the City series, Architecture series, and of course Technic.

Show threadPaul Turnbull has moved.🇨🇦Dec 19, 2024
@linux_mclinuxface Now the ops guy in the office next to me…
Show threadKyle DavisDec 19, 2024

@Chigaze now THAT makes sense.

And, I had some friends do the same thing as a kid: build it once, let it collect dust on a shelf forever. Blew my mind.

Show threadskategoat 🐐 🇵🇸Dec 19, 2024
@linux_mclinuxface Dev. Thought the bits were lame, didn't do anything.
Show threadKyle DavisDec 19, 2024
@felipe huh.
Show threadMelroy van den BergDec 20, 2024
@linux_mclinuxface I was knex in my case. But yes same thing as lego basically 😂
Show threadCassandrichDec 21, 2024
@linux_mclinuxface I answered 3, but it was more like "follow instructions, then change things to my liking after getting it built"..