× The internal search function is temporarily non-functional. The current search engine is no longer viable and we are researching alternatives.
As a stop gap measure, we are using Google's custom search engine service.
If you know of an easy to use, open source, search engine ... please contact support@midrange.com.


  • Subject: Re: What counts as technically slick?
  • From: David & Eileen Keck <bstars@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2001 01:26:37 -0700

There is something to be said for "good enough".  If a business relies on
technologies (i.e. coding techniques) which are not well understood by most
of the developers in that shop, then serious support issues can arise for
that business.  In an RPG shop with no C talent, you may come in and
significantly speed up a process with a clever bit of C code.  When you are
unavailable one day and that critical business process fails, the RPG
programmers shall certainly curse your clever enhancement. The business
executives will rightly criticize IS management for putting the business at
risk by not creating and enforcing standards.  A business needs compelling
reasons to implement new technologies because there are risks and costs.
Technologies should not be implemented until they can be properly supported,
which means training.  Logically, this applies even to the level of coding
techniques.
- Dave K. (who enjoys learning and doing things in new ways)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Buck Calabro" <Buck.Calabro@commsoft.net>
To: <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 1:56 PM
Subject: What counts as technically slick?


> I just got re-subscribed after an email domain change and stumbled in the
> middle of the "technically slick vs. good enough" discussion.
>
> When I modify an existing 1990 vintage RPG II style program, one of the
> first things I do is to convert the code into RPG IV.  After that, I
convert
> the section I'm working on into a subprocedure.  I've been called bad
names
> because of this.  Apparently the namecallers think this is just too
> technical for their taste.
>
> Is it?
>
> In lieu of my usual tirade on the topic, let me ask this: Why would a
> company _not_ want the most technically competent programmers?  What makes
> lower standards a Good Thing?  Fiscal expediency?  If so, that's fine, but
> the boss that says that to me had better never utter the words Mission
> Critical in my hearing.
>
> My view: As a programmer, my main product; _my value_ is that I produce
> programs.  The more skilled I am at producing programs, the more value I
> provide to my employer.  I fail to comprehend how settling for Good Enough
> increases or even maintains my skill level.
>
> Buck Calabro
> Commsoft; Albany, NY
> "Nothing is so firmly believed as
>  that which we least know" -- Michel Montaigne
> Visit the Midrange archives at http://www.midrange.com
> +---
> | This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
> | To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
> | To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
> | To unsubscribe from this list send email to
MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
> | Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator:
david@midrange.com
> +---
>

+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
| To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This thread ...

Replies:

Follow On AppleNews
Return to Archive home page | Return to MIDRANGE.COM home page

This mailing list archive is Copyright 1997-2024 by midrange.com and David Gibbs as a compilation work. Use of the archive is restricted to research of a business or technical nature. Any other uses are prohibited. Full details are available on our policy page. If you have questions about this, please contact [javascript protected email address].

Operating expenses for this site are earned using the Amazon Associate program and Google Adsense.