Ask HN: How can I self-evaluate my programming skills?
I set out on a mission to improve my programming skills in general, and my first step is to not only find out where I stand, but where I need to improve.
One thing I saw was the [Programmer Competency Matrix](http://www.starling-software.com/employment/programmer-competency-matrix.html) which looked like a really good idea to me, but a few things stuck out as awkward to me, or perhaps dated.
My question is: How should I be evaluating myself? How often? How should I decide what to work on? Does my ability relative to others matter, and if so, how do I know what it is?
---
For anyone interested, I [wrote down](
http://cowbelljs.blogspot.com/2012/01/programmer-competency-matrix.html) where I felt I was for each level, this is my present bench-marking approach.
One thing I saw was the [Programmer Competency Matrix](http://www.starling-software.com/employment/programmer-competency-matrix.html) which looked like a really good idea to me, but a few things stuck out as awkward to me, or perhaps dated.
My question is: How should I be evaluating myself? How often? How should I decide what to work on? Does my ability relative to others matter, and if so, how do I know what it is?
---
For anyone interested, I [wrote down]( http://cowbelljs.blogspot.com/2012/01/programmer-competency-matrix.html) where I felt I was for each level, this is my present bench-marking approach.