Nobody ever gets credit for fixing problems that never happened (2001) [pdf]

Post by fendy3002 » Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 6:25 AM UTC

hakunin wrote: post #27

I've been contemplating the issue in the headline, as pertains to my value. When I help somebody in 40 mins with something they've been stuck on for 3 months, my value is clear to everyone. When I work there the whole time, and nobody ever gets stuck for 3 months, my value is unclear. Don't know how to deal with this paradox.

Post by diamondo25 » Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 6:26 AM UTC

bluGill wrote: post #32

I always get cynical when I see awards for software releases. Someone always gets an award for staying up late to fix a last minute problem. Normally the person that should have written good code in the first place so they wouldn't have had to come in late. The award should go to the person (likely people) who never got called in at all in the first place because we didn't find a bug in their code.

Post by euroderf » Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 6:30 AM UTC

nomel wrote: post #230

pyrolistical wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Award everybody with a bonus that can be deducted with every bug report

Oh, maybe adversarial salaries. You each, meticulously, go through the others code, trying to find as many bugs as possible, in your spare time. Each bug you find transfers a percentage of their salary into yours. End result: everyone's code is perfect, and everyone hates each other. :D

Post by pintxo » Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 6:40 AM UTC

dasil003 wrote: post #205

zx8080 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> your days will be much better and the odds will be with you. In the context of one's effort valuation it seem to be a very bad advice. Unfortunately.

This kind jaded, reductive answer reeks of sour grapes. I've seen so many adopt a transactional mentality as a sort of defense mechanism against the indifference of the universe, and in the process they unintentionally blind themselves to numerous daily examples of people just trying to do the right thing. Sure the world has problems, but if we can't see both the good and the bad then we become embittered and small,…

Post by pintxo » Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 6:42 AM UTC

cloverich wrote: post #122

runamuck wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Easy - half a$$ your code and when it breaks - swoop in, "fix things" (actually do it right) and play the role of hero! (I've seen so-called "Rock Stars" at places I worked do this over and over)

In high school I actually had a friend teach me this in a humorous way. In football we did sprints (the kind where you physically run) at the end. He said -- half ass the sprints. Then on the last sprint, run as fast as you can, you'll have more energy left, and when they see you running fastest you'll get all the credit. He was doing it as a joke, but lo and behold he out runs everyone on the last sprint by a lot, a…