Russians had a reputation for being the best programmers on Wall Street, and Serge thought he knew why: They had been forced to learn to program computers without the luxury of endless computer time. Many years later, when he had plenty of computer time, Serge still wrote out new programs on paper before typing them into the machine. In Russia, time on the computer was measured in minutes, he said. When you write a program, you are given a tiny time slot to make it work.
Russians gained a strong reputation for their programming skills on Wall Street, attributed to their unique experiences with limited access to computer resources. Serge reflected on this, explaining that during his training, he had to learn to program efficiently due to the scarcity of computer time. This environment fostered a mindset that focused on precision and careful planning.
Even years later, with ample access to computers, Serge maintained the habit of drafting his programs on paper before inputting them into the machine. He pointed out that in Russia, computer time was highly restricted, making it crucial to optimize each minute spent coding. This discipline instilled in them a resourcefulness that served them well in the competitive world of finance.
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