It's worth looking at all the other pages on his site both before and after reading that article. Do you think he would've be able to accomplish all that if he "utilises only syntax and statements taught in an introductory programming course"?
What's funny is that often our future selves is the maintainer of our software.
IMHO if you find it difficult to understand code you wrote years ago, you have not actually improved. In fact, if this was any other skill (natural language, maths, etc.), the inability to do what you used to be able to, would be considered none other than a regression.
http://www.linusakesson.net/programming/kernighans-lever/
It's worth looking at all the other pages on his site both before and after reading that article. Do you think he would've be able to accomplish all that if he "utilises only syntax and statements taught in an introductory programming course"?
What's funny is that often our future selves is the maintainer of our software.
IMHO if you find it difficult to understand code you wrote years ago, you have not actually improved. In fact, if this was any other skill (natural language, maths, etc.), the inability to do what you used to be able to, would be considered none other than a regression.