Posted by Peter Morris
Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:39:00 GMT
A friend pointed me towards an interesting article.
Steveys Blog Rants
And after reviewing it, I can say I am both horrified and unsurprised.
Why?
Because I have met several people who claim they are coders, who, when actually confronted with coding work, just can’t DO it.
You ask them about linked lists, and data structures, binary chop and recursion.
They nod their head, make some reassuring NOISES.
But, when you show them some code and ask them to change something, they go blank, fumble and say they will get back to you.
Posted in Coding | Tags coding, rants | 1 comment
Posted by Peter Morris
Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:50:00 GMT
Recently, I had the opportunity to reinforce the need for solid sourcecode control within any software project to a friend who was looking for a new coder (PHP).
Previously, his sourcecode control policy centred around having good backups.
Needless to say, good backups are essential, but only the first and most minor step into sourcecode control. Solid revision control and management is essential to any modern software project.
So, I was heartened to hear that upon interviewing his candidate, he said that the first thing out of the applicants mouth was a question regarding sourcecode control.
Great says I, good sign….
‘Yeah, he has written his own sourcecode control system and wants to use that. Good huh?’
WHAT?! His own?
Well, since then I have had time to mull, to digest, and reflect.
Ok, a couple of questions…
1) Is this sourcecode control system freely available and well supported by anyone but this guy?
2) What happens when he walks away from the project?
3) Is it supported by other tools in the software development stack? Capistrano etc?
4) Whats wrong with subversion that this guy thinks he needs to spend time and effort inventing his own?
All of these questions paint a picture that some bespoke sourecode control system is probably a very bad idea. In fact, there would have to be MANY factors going the other way to balance out the negative aspects of this decision.
Posted in Coding | no comments
Posted by Peter Morris
Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:45:00 GMT
Before christmas I was informed of the passing of a very good friend.
I first met Paul Smith via his Bulletin board ‘raytech’ in the late 80s. Over the next few years we conversed daily via the board, and telephone and I and my wife spent a christmas visiting with him and Claire at their home in Scotland. I look back on that christmas as a truly happy holiday with good conversation, good company and good food.
Pauls dry whit and fresh approach to any problem or topic was very welcome. I remember, a programming challenge that was set in a conversation at university, and the beauty, elegance and pure CHEEK in Pauls solution to it, when I told him about it. To this day, his solution is the one I remember, not my own more clunky way.
More recently we fell out of touch, and Claires phone call before christmas to relay the sad news of his passing left me floored. I had come to rely if not on regular contact, at least the background knowledge that such a person with such a mind was out there. Since the news, I have taken a while to get to the point where I could put these words down with any form of composure. I hope Claire forgives me the delay.
Paul, wherever you may be, I am confident that you are examining things and drawing your own conclusions sometimes with a wry grin, and other times with a scowl and a shake of your head.
Farewell Friend.
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