Re: LIMITING Programmer ACCES TO LIVE DATA -- MIDRANGE-L

Dean,

<<snip>>
> >    Here I must disagree.  A new programmer or contractor is going to be
> > much more
> >  careful than the long time programmer who is 'Sure' that he is in the
> > correct library.
> 
> Here _I_ must disagree.  I constantly fight the "contractor image" where
> people come in with QGOD authority and toast production objects. I'm careful
> myself, but have found that _MOST_ new people of either ilk are trying to
> show off their skills early and end up making a serious mistake.
> Congratulations on your atypical experience.

  I have a team of 20 professional programmers and technicians.  These people
remain in my employ because the don't act like they own the place, or that they
are 'better than' the staff they are supplementing.  Everyone makes mistakes 
them
and myself included, but most customers will call you back even if you take a 
bit
longer than anticipated, but may not if you made a mess of their system in the
process.

> 
> Again, atypical.  Have you any idea how many places I've worked that asked me
> to modify a program under a restricted profile that I could not, because
> someone in-house had forgotten that they were signed on as QSECOFR when they
> last compiled it?  What if that person had performed your SQL update under
> QSECOFR?  Better to have a central point of control (particularly a version
> control system like TurnOver, Implementer, or Aldon) than count on people to
> sign on under the proper password, IMHO.

  Understand and I've had that as well.  It is frustrating no doubt when the
customer provides you with less than required to complete the task.  Once way to
combat that is a little piece of software I use on my Palm.  Touch the screen 
and
it time stamps and allows comments: "Waiting for authority to compile program -
20 minutes".  When they see that on their bill THATs when they get the message.

  I can't dissagree with the use of version control software but many small 
shops
can't afford it or don't have time to learn it.  I still feel however, that
having a restricted profile for use during most programming activities is a good
safety net. With or without version control.

 - Larry  
-- 
Larry Bolhuis         |         What if it's True?
Arbor Solutions, Inc  |
(616) 451-2500        |  
(616) 451-2571 -fax   | 
lbolhui@ibm.net       |
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