[urthor]

I must admit, I read this and failed to find any profound, deep way that these coders are different.

Seems like they just worked hard.

[faiD9Eet]

> I must admit, I read this and failed to find any profound, deep way that these coders are different.

I have come to the same conclusion.

> Seems like they just worked hard.

I would like to draw another conclusion. Fitzgerald operated live journal from his bedroom as a teenager - so he was at the brink of new technology. Same effect that gave rise to Bill Gates. There are probably more effects at play, like working for a company that does not waste your time doing bullshit tasks and having a mentor to get you started. Even a like minded individual will increase your chances to overcome obstacles.

[neves]

They all debug using printf and hard thinking. No fancy tools. I like to play with tools, but they showed me that they really that important.

[electrondood]

I read it as a collection of stories from on the job.

[082349872349872]

they just worked hard (which many people do) — on things that mattered (which many people don't)