"To another programmer, the programmer they are most likely to want to go into battle with is the superstar."
This is true, my company recently fired the programmer I most respected. His code was elegant, reusable, always well thought out. However he wasn't good at estimating how long something would take him, and after missing a few important deadlines they canned him :(
Agreed. Similar instance, used to work with this great developer. He was very talented, friendly, etc. Used to pair with him every day and he challenged me constantly to improve. He also tried to challenge the rest of the team, questioning the way we did things and suggesting ways to improve. He collided with a few guys who'd been there longer. Layoffs came around and he got canned. Now though, he's better off and works at a place that encourages continual improvement.
Sometimes though, the "who is a superstar" becomes "who is your competition" and then it becomes a negative. At least when competition is feared instead of seen as a challenge.
This is true, my company recently fired the programmer I most respected. His code was elegant, reusable, always well thought out. However he wasn't good at estimating how long something would take him, and after missing a few important deadlines they canned him :(