The humble hash aggregate

If I had to pick a single programming concept where understanding it is like a superpower, it would probably be the hash map (aka in Python, the humble dictionary) because I've seen the pattern come up in almost every kind of data/programming work I've ever done.

One of the important ways we learn when we’re growing up is by understanding patterns. As a mom of two young children, I’ve been lucky enough to witness this happen multiple times in the wild. Recently, my youngest, who is almost two, has learned the Russian word “еще”, or “more.” He’ll say it when he wants a second (or third) slice of watermelon. He’ll also say it when he opens the shoe closet and sees one sandal, and then another one, and another one.

It’s always amazing to watch children learn about the world. Children need to understand patterns to understand how their world is structured,

We find patterns in math, but we also find patterns in nature, art, music, and literature. Patterns provide a sense of order in what might otherwise appear chaotic. Researchers have found that understanding and being able to identify recurring patterns allow us to make educated guesses, assumptions, and hypothesis; it helps us develop important skills of critical thinking and logic.

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