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Programmer Competency Matrix

starling-software.com

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Re: Programmer Competency Matrix

#121

Post by zarify »

niels_olson wrote: post #101
tptacek wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What a great quote. I wonder where it came from.

I believe the origin is in medicine. My wife introduced the idea too me 10 years ago. In medical practice, watch out for the doctor who's been practicing the same year of medicine over and over and over.

I've heard it from one of the karate instructors I've corresponded with (although in that context it was less of a dismissive phrase and more a cautionary one for our own training). Regardless of the origin, it's a good one.

Re: Programmer Competency Matrix

#122

Post by genwin »

yen223 wrote: post #107
Zimahl wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. I'm not sure how 'Source Code Version Control' and 'Build Automation' is anywhere near the words 'Software Engineering'. And 'Automated Testing' isn't a given at a lot of shops. Professionally, I've never set up version control. It's there when I start the job, it'll be there when I leave. I've branched and merged but a lot of times this is handled by a build manager. Build automation I have never expressly d…

Let me get this straight, you do not know how to set up version control, therefore knowing how to set up version control is useless? It's not hard to start a Git repo you know, it's something you can pick up in under a day.

It wouldn't be useless but it could be unnecessary. I don't anticipate ever needing to set up version control, unless it's my own business. Any place I work will almost certain already have it set up, and if not, someone else will be tasked to set it up.

Re: Programmer Competency Matrix

#123

Post by krapp »

npsimons wrote: post #120
krapp wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work with PHP and javascript so I already knew I was scum...

Hey now, don't be so hard on yourself - at least you work with Javascript ;)

I did teach myself enough Perl to write what was possibly the worst flat-file bbs script ever, ages ago on Tripod. >_>

Re: Programmer Competency Matrix

#124

Post by xtreme »

genwin wrote: post #122
yen223 wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me get this straight, you do not know how to set up version control, therefore knowing how to set up version control is useless? It's not hard to start a Git repo you know, it's something you can pick up in under a day.

It wouldn't be useless but it could be unnecessary. I don't anticipate ever needing to set up version control, unless it's my own business. Any place I work will almost certain already have it set up, and if not, someone else will be tasked to set it up.

I actually like to put many of my documents under version control. Also, if you do any project as a hobby, using a vcs would probably help a lot.

Re: Programmer Competency Matrix

#125

Post by tbourdon »

Jun8 wrote: post #72
tptacek wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What a great quote. I wonder where it came from.

This is a quote I use very often! As with many other great quotes, I think it originates in English from Trevanian's Shibumi (when Otake-san, the Go master is giving his final teaching to Nicholai): Do not fall into the error of the artisan who boasts of twenty years experience in his craft while in fact he has had only one year of experience — twenty times. Most probably Trevanian has drawn upon some other source, t…

Fabulous book. The commentary on the west rings truer the older I get.

Re: Programmer Competency Matrix

#126

Post by peterhost »

nc17 wrote: post #60
riazrizvi wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the contrary, it is useful to have a comprehensive, substantive measure of technical skills. Having one does not preclude additional assessments, as you assume. I have been continually disappointed with the lack of extensiveness in technical interviews, as a candidate, but also as an interviewer when reviewing other interviewer assessments of potential candidates. I have yet to meet a programmer who doesn't believ…

The problem is that you're relying on interviews to hire someone who will hopefully work with you for years to come. Would you interview and pick your wife or husband in one day? Would a table like the above help?

This answer totally made my day. Excellent analogy.

Re: Programmer Competency Matrix

#127

Post by Zimahl »

yen223 wrote: post #107
Zimahl wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. I'm not sure how 'Source Code Version Control' and 'Build Automation' is anywhere near the words 'Software Engineering'. And 'Automated Testing' isn't a given at a lot of shops. Professionally, I've never set up version control. It's there when I start the job, it'll be there when I leave. I've branched and merged but a lot of times this is handled by a build manager. Build automation I have never expressly d…

Let me get this straight, you do not know how to set up version control, therefore knowing how to set up version control is useless? It's not hard to start a Git repo you know, it's something you can pick up in under a day.

Your quote:

Let me get this straight, you do not know how to set up version control, therefore knowing how to set up version control is useless?

What I said:

Professionally, I've never set up version control.

I also never said it was useless. In fact, I use it at work AND at home on my own projects religiously.

However, I don't feel a need to ask about it in an interview. If you haven't used one you will be soon and if you know how to manage one it's just gravy. I might not even ask it's so inconsequential. Continuous integration is the same.

And no matter how you spin it, it's not software engineering. Not in the ballpark, not even the same game.

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