What is the rubber duck theory?

The idea is that when a programmer needs to debug their code, they should explain the program line-by-line to a rubber duck. Often, the act of explaining the problem step by step will cause the solution to present itself. The concept of Rubber Duck Debugging need not be confined to programming.

Where did rubber duck debugging come from?

The term “rubber duck debugging” can be traced back to a 1999 book by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas called “The Pragmatic Programmer.” In the book, the authors describe a programmer who carries a rubber duck around and debugs their code by explaining it, line-by-line, to the duck.

What does the phrase rubber duck mean?

Rubber ducking is the shortened term for ‘rubber duck debugging’. It’s a method of debugging code that involves the classic bathroom toy: a rubber ducky. Essentially, rubber ducking is about talking through your coding problems with a friendly duck that won’t judge you.

What is the deal with rubber ducks?

The concept is very simple: Jeep owners buy some mini rubber ducks, write some messages or drawings on them and leave them on or in other Jeeps — just to make other Jeep owners smile. Once “ducked,” if the “duckee” wishes, they can take up the cause of spreading a little joy to other Jeep drivers.

Why does rubber duck debugging have that as its name?

The name is a reference to a story in the book The Pragmatic Programmer in which a programmer would carry around a rubber duck and debug their code by forcing themselves to explain it, line-by-line, to the duck.

Why did someone put a rubber duck on my Jeep?

Jeep Ducking began in Ontario in 2020 when a Jeep owner decided to do something to brighten both her and a stranger’s day. She went and bought a rubber ducky, and put the duck on a nearby Jeep. Davidson said that the Jeep ducking tradition is a way to bring smiles to people’s faces and a fun way to make someone’s day.

Why do Jeep owners have rubber ducks?

Some found Jeep Ducking, when you find another Jeep in the wild, you leave a rubber duck somewhere on it for the owner to find. The goal is that they’ll post a photo of it on social media, and then pass the duck along to keep the game going.

How do rubber duck antennas work?

The rubber ducky is an electrically short quarter-wave antenna in which the inductor, instead of being in the base, is built into the antenna itself. The antenna is made of a narrow helix of wire like a spring, which functions as the needed inductor.