Re: New RPG programmers

You know, Buck, I agree.  I don't believe in looking at people as
cold, hard resources.  I think that some people do operate that way
sometimes though.  I have had most of my successes in playing a part
in decision making also.  Knowing the system enough to be able to kick
out some well-built apps that sparkle, but staying human enough to
speak to users in English.  In alot of ways, good programmers that
last have this talent -- to relate to people and write their own specs
for the code that needs to be written.

I have seen that most companies hire programmers because they want
their apps to evolve with them, not to be these static, mysterious
islands in the fog that are un-changeable.  If they have enough talent
to determine their course of business over the next 5-10 years, and
write specs to help that cause, then they hire consultants.  --Just my
opinion...


On Fri, 5 Nov 2004 15:39:06 -0500, Buck Calabro
<buck.calabro@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Does the community see where the
> > new crop of RPG programmers is coming from?
> 
> >From the same place as the old crop, I imagine.
> 
> That sounds flip, but it isn't intended to be.  How many 'grey' people
> have gone to university and learnt RPG programming there, versus
> looking at existing code and the manuals?  I'm not suggesting that
> this is the very best way to learn _programming_ nor do I suggest that
> it is the best way to learn RPG, but it worked in the past, and
> believe me, System/3 had far fewer units in the field than iSeries
> does.  Companies grew their own RPG staff without much help from the
> universities.
> 
> > They are deciding whether to invest in "new"
> > RPG coders as employees and instead only
> > use contractors as the resource.
> 
> 'Resource.'  As if programmers are casters on the bottom of chairs, to
> be replaced at a whim.  Electricity, water and heat are resources.
> Money is a resource.  Programmers are people.  HR-PC-gibberish-speak
> demeans us all.  Sorry, this isn't aimed at any one in particular, but
> the PC-speech has really got under my skin of late.  HR types repeat
> this sort of stuff until they believe it and then we're hosed.
>   --buck
> 
> 
> 
> 
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