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Comment by pwaivers | Hacker News Reader

> What are some traits shared by the best programmers you know? I'd wager things like introversion, thoughtfulness and detail orientation show up on your list.

I would not put introversion on that list. Great engineers can be either extroverted or introverted. It is irrelevant to quality of coding.

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In terms of raw skill, I'd expect introverts to come out on top, for the sole reason that they have likely put more hours into coding than extroverts.

On the flip side, more extroverted programmers probably do better when it comes to working on a team and project planning.

Ideally you're hiring a balanced team so they can cover each other's weaknesses.

I don't think introversion or extroversion has any correlation to programming skill. And that is coming from an introvert. When it comes down to it, after many years in industry, I think that being extroverted is an advantage because this is an extrovert's world. And I have worked with several incredibly intelligent and savvy extroverts. Of course, this is all just anecdotal.

I have not seen a strong correlation either way. It's all a game of generalisations and tradeoffs.

And I would rate the Belbin test higher and I do not score at all on completer finisher role.

Yeah but stereotypes

Personally I only hire engineers that wear the same pair of dad jeans daily with a conference shirt they got for free.

I would very much like to see that team :)

Stick your head out your car window at lunch time in Mountain View :)

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