"You think your solution is clever? Wait 6 months and you think it stinks."
I can't even count the times I've put together a "clever" function only to find out that an optimized solution existed in a common library and I could have done the same thing in 1/20th of the code. Software development is humbling.
i usually roll my own first, even if i'm sure a library exists. it helps me get a better understanding of the problem space, and since i'm still a greenhorn this understanding is critical.
i am then grateful for the library and how easy it makes my life!
I can't even count the times I've put together a "clever" function only to find out that an optimized solution existed in a common library and I could have done the same thing in 1/20th of the code. Software development is humbling.