Hacker News only seems to acknowledge the following path in the evolution of a developer:
1) Young self: "I'm a fucking genius and I'm writing this code as proof of my brilliance."
2) 10 years later, discovering the code: "What a retard. Fuck off. Better approach."
I don't recall seeing the ultimate realization, 20 years later.
3) 20 years later, discovering the code that's addressing the same problem: "Trying to solve it quick ... nope, not working... how bout trying to understand that code I wrote 20 years ago... FUCKING. BRILLIANT."
1) Young self: "I'm a fucking genius and I'm writing this code as proof of my brilliance."
2) 10 years later, discovering the code: "What a retard. Fuck off. Better approach."
I don't recall seeing the ultimate realization, 20 years later.
3) 20 years later, discovering the code that's addressing the same problem: "Trying to solve it quick ... nope, not working... how bout trying to understand that code I wrote 20 years ago... FUCKING. BRILLIANT."