Comments on: Coding is less science and more craft http://stu.mp/2009/01/coding-is-less-science-and-more-craft.html Just another WordPress weblog Sun, 01 Feb 2009 07:22:33 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: leechri8 http://stu.mp/2009/01/coding-is-less-science-and-more-craft.html/comment-page-1#comment-730 leechri8 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:41:48 +0000 http://www.joestump.net/2009/01/coding-is-less-science-and-more-craft.html#comment-730 This is how I feel everyday at my job. I feel like I am constantly having to pick up after other people's coding messes. I find that I am one of maybe 2-3 developers at my company that actually have a computer science or equivalent degree. Most of our developers have telecom or some other non-technical degree and they more/less fell into the position of web development because of whatever reason in their career. Very few, including myself, find so much passion in programming that we tinker and constantly strive to learn more outside the confines of our daily work. The biggest problem that I have found is that though I have been advocating more thought be put into the quality and documentation of code, that I am unable to influence enough the decisions rendered by our IT and upper level managers. It's been a lost cause no matter what strong evidence I and others have brought to the table. This is how I feel everyday at my job. I feel like I am constantly having to pick up after other people’s coding messes. I find that I am one of maybe 2-3 developers at my company that actually have a computer science or equivalent degree. Most of our developers have telecom or some other non-technical degree and they more/less fell into the position of web development because of whatever reason in their career. Very few, including myself, find so much passion in programming that we tinker and constantly strive to learn more outside the confines of our daily work. The biggest problem that I have found is that though I have been advocating more thought be put into the quality and documentation of code, that I am unable to influence enough the decisions rendered by our IT and upper level managers. It’s been a lost cause no matter what strong evidence I and others have brought to the table.

]]> By: joe http://stu.mp/2009/01/coding-is-less-science-and-more-craft.html/comment-page-1#comment-728 joe Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:42:46 +0000 http://www.joestump.net/2009/01/coding-is-less-science-and-more-craft.html#comment-728 I disagree. I think the "red tape" and "hoops" is another way of saying, "Why use hardwood backing on that bookshelf when I can use waxed cardboard?" You can force people to do things correctly. If they hate it that much they can choose not to work with me, Sara, Helgi, you, etc. I disagree. I think the “red tape” and “hoops” is another way of saying, “Why use hardwood backing on that bookshelf when I can use waxed cardboard?” You can force people to do things correctly. If they hate it that much they can choose not to work with me, Sara, Helgi, you, etc.

]]> By: arin http://stu.mp/2009/01/coding-is-less-science-and-more-craft.html/comment-page-1#comment-729 arin Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:34:14 +0000 http://www.joestump.net/2009/01/coding-is-less-science-and-more-craft.html#comment-729 I agree with the rant 100%. We've all seen some really crappy code and, unfortunately - given its low barrier to entry, there's a ton of bad PHP out there. However I gotta disagree with your proposed "fixes". Unit tests, standards and docs may help mitigate the "damage" but in the end I'd venture to bet that these tasks would seem like red tapes & hoops to the type of person you described... probably would make matters worse. -Arin I agree with the rant 100%. We’ve all seen some really crappy code and, unfortunately – given its low barrier to entry, there’s a ton of bad PHP out there.

However I gotta disagree with your proposed “fixes”. Unit tests, standards and docs may help mitigate the “damage” but in the end I’d venture to bet that these tasks would seem like red tapes & hoops to the type of person you described… probably would make matters worse.

-Arin

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