Re: How to move forward

[James Rich <james@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Pat Barber wrote:
> I ain't laughing.... I been wondering the same thing.
>
> Based on the responses, I would say this is a real concern.
>
> I noted that almost every single reply gave a "different"
> way to "move forward", which is exactly what this "no standard"
> method I see in this whole thing.

Is there only one way to learn things?  Of course not.  It doesn't 
matter that people take different approaches to learning.

> One solution that I see mentioned several times:
>
> "Buy a $400 pc and get some "freeware" off the web...."
> This is NOT the solution most managers will seek.

Actually, the responses were to get Free Software, not freeware.  The 
name difference is subtle, but what is referred to is vastly different. 
 The Free in Free Software refers to the freedoms that Free Software 
guarantees, not the price.  Free Software is some of the most 
high-quality software available today.  Any manager who decides to not 
take advantage of it needs to seriously reevaluate their thinking.

> If you hear of a solid, well documented, proven solution, let me
> know.

There is a solid, well documented, proven solution to learning:  study 
and work hard.  The poster was asking where to start learning, not what 
software package to get.  Some programming languages were suggested not 
as solutions, but as tools to allow the poster to make his own solution.

> I would be VERY concerned if I ever thought I was going to go
> into a shop that used some of these "great tools" and created
> this "monster web site" and then all those creative folks left
> and went on to the next great adventure. 
>
> They also probably forgot to write down any of these great ideas 
> they used. I can not imagine what it will be like to do routine
> maintenance on one of these sites after the normal staff turnover
> occurs.

This is no different than programming for some other user interface. 
Just because you are using a web interface doesn't mean that good 
software development practices are to be left behind.

James Rich