Almost anyone can learn to program. Someone who understands math probably has some advantages. As for “becoming” a “top programmer,” who can say. What does “top programmer” mean? A programmer who makes good money? A programmer with a recognized name in the business? No one “becomes” a top programmer because programming describes something a person does, not something they are. Success in any field depends on talent, skill, persistence, and a lot of luck.
Of course a “successful mathematician” (whatever success means in that context) can learn to program and may get to the top of the profession (again, whatever that means, which is not really clear to me). Anyone might do that, mathematician or not. No one can predict who, mathematician or otherwise, will actually succeed at programming.
Stephen Wolfram might serve as a role model for a successful mathematician who also contributed useful high-quality software, and made a lot of money doing it.
Wow, you accuse Wolfram of abusing people while calling me an idiot. Ad hominem insults and attacks on a sincere comment don’t add to your credibility. Did you just create this anonymous login to call people names online?
I just gave him as an example of a top programmer who has an academic math background.
Wolfram’s credentials are easy to find. I don’t suppose you get named as a Fellow in the American Mathematical Society if you aren’t something of a credible mathematician. The guy invented and wrote Mathematica for f’s sake.
academic math background? this guy has no formal academic mathematics
math background. do your own diligence before you open your mouth.
AMS fellowship is case specific. think: free mathematica copies supplied, some anonymous donations. He is no credible mathematician. What are you doing about?
ad hominem attacks? go to Taleb to learn about real ad hominem attacks.
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[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 26.9 ms ] threadIf the question is can all of them - no. The skills required overlap but they are are different.
Of course a “successful mathematician” (whatever success means in that context) can learn to program and may get to the top of the profession (again, whatever that means, which is not really clear to me). Anyone might do that, mathematician or not. No one can predict who, mathematician or otherwise, will actually succeed at programming.
Stephen Wolfram might serve as a role model for a successful mathematician who also contributed useful high-quality software, and made a lot of money doing it.
I just gave him as an example of a top programmer who has an academic math background.
Wolfram’s credentials are easy to find. I don’t suppose you get named as a Fellow in the American Mathematical Society if you aren’t something of a credible mathematician. The guy invented and wrote Mathematica for f’s sake.
AMS fellowship is case specific. think: free mathematica copies supplied, some anonymous donations. He is no credible mathematician. What are you doing about? ad hominem attacks? go to Taleb to learn about real ad hominem attacks.
Ramanujan had none (and it was visible in the way he was writing proofs) so what?
Either you produce something of interest in the field or you don’t.
And Wolfram did.