Re: Growing your own programmers -- MIDRANGE-L

Wynn, all:

I can't really call myself "home grown" but I traveled a nontraditional
path.

While in high school, as a propeller head math geek, I had a chance to
learn Fortran on a 360.

Remember the movie "The Graduate"? When the guy puts his arm around
Dustin Hoffman and says: "Plastics."?  Well a little bird whispered in
by ear and said "Computers".

In 1971 when I got cut lose to join the "real world", I went to college
to get a Business Administration agree with an emphasis in economics and
took programming languages and systems analysis as my electives.  Then I
also had a mentors in both the business world and software arena.  That
helped a lot!

I was a real fun kindda guy ;-)

The reason I decided to join this thread is your comment about a
Computer Sciences degree.  I felt then, and still do today, that a CS
degree does teach one the science of computers but it does not teach one
the art of applying that knowledge to the business world.  Unless you
want to live in a cubicle, this trade requires too many disciplines for
a single degree to adequately cover.

As others have mentioned, strong business knowledge (along with good
problem solving skills) is a key element in success in this field.

Our company has hired very talented technicians who have been a drain on
resources because they didn't know squat about how a business uses and
benefits from the computerization of a daily function.  Not to mention
that they express their prowess by being overly "cute" in their
programming technique.  There is a fine line (and I get to draw it <g>)
between being creative and being cute.  I like/foster creative,
imaginative, innovative but must do business by what's supportable.  How
boring for an "artist".

My recommendation, to anyone who asks, is to major in the area where
computers will be utilized and have the technical classes as your
secondary.  It changes too fast.

Regards,
James W. Kilgore
email@James-W-Kilgore.com


Wynn Osborne wrote:
> 
> Interesting stuff here. Kinda reminds me of that wonderful book, The
> Psychology Of Computer Programming.
> 
> Personally, my regret was that I did not take an interest in computing
> prior to reaching 20 years old. I ended up with an associates degree when I
> should have had more guts and went for the 4 year comp. science degree. At
> 37, I don't feel limited, knowledge wise, but the 4 year science degree
> would have opened more doors and allowed me to view some problems differently.
>
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