[SATLUG] San Antonio's Daily WTF

[R. Tyler Ballance]

On Nov 30, 2006, at 5:20 PM, Robert Pearson wrote:

> First step was to stop complaining. Brings everybody down including
> myself.

If I don't complain, how will everybody know that I'm smarter and  
more perfect than them? ;)

> Next was to realize that programs are like snowflakes, no two
> are alike. What is the person trying to say with that structure? Don't
> wordsmith! If the code is true to the algorithm and will compile, link
> and run with no errors, then it is a variation of personal expression.
> The hardest step was to live by example. To write programs, do program
> reviews, give program training and to provide leadership to lead the
> way out of the Stone Age. I instituted program reviews by reviewing my
> own code for everyone's delight. When they saw I could take the abuse
> and had a "real" answer for "why I did it that way" they began to
> offer their code for review. None of those shops use Fortran today. I
> had some influence in that decision by my programming examples.

I cited the example, because I am in your position, except I am in a  
position with zero power to influence the development process, its  
very difficult to drive progress from the bottom up when your  
suggestions fall on deaf, or even worse, belligerent ears. My  
development process includes regular testing, source control, a bug  
tracker, and structured code (object-oriented concepts exist for a  
reason). The problem however is that I have zero control over any of  
it once it leaves my desk.

Besides, for the past 2 months said individual has nothing but  
criticized my every move, effectively forced himself into conference  
calls, and detracted from any progress I have been making. Its nice  
vindication (in a elementary school way) to look behind the wizard's  
curtain to see far less than the wizard's booming voice makes it out  
to be ;)

Cheers

R. Tyler Ballance: Lead Mac Developer at bleep. software
contact: tyler at bleepsoft.com | jabber: tyler at jabber.geekisp.com