How do you do programming?
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Hi all,
following the thread 'What makes a good developer?' I have a follow up question.
How do you do programming?
Are you happy holding the deadlines without having the app crashing?
Do you have time to optimize your code with regards to efficiently using memory, runtime, ...?
Cheers,
Frank
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Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url] -
If you want to follow the other thread, can the humour overflow into here or not?
Generally, I write code to be as optimal as I know how. Then when I have time (ROTHLOL) I go back and try different methods.
Imagine the client when they see a quote for 3 days on a proc just because you tried to get it 50ms less.
You can always tell the client that they need more processors.
Cheers,
Crispin
Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!
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quote:
If you want to follow the other thread, can the humour overflow into here or not?You're welcome.
quote:
Generally, I write code to be as optimal as I know how. Then when I have time (ROTHLOL) I go back and try different methods.I know what you mean. In most cases there isn't time to go back, right?
quote:
Imagine the client when they see a quote for 3 days on a proc just because you tried to get it 50ms less.We generally charged a fixed-price for projects. If we were in time of before deadline, ok. If not, calculation was wrong. I must add, that our customers were middle - big-sized insurance companies which normally take a bath in money ?!?
quote:
You can always tell the client that they need more processors.Yes, blame it on the hardware!
Cheers,
Frank
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Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url] -
Our customers are also insurance companies. The one in the UK is the largest (I believe they are the largest insurance company in the UK) might be bathing in money but they sure are tight with it. Maybe that is the reason they can bath in it.
They quesry everything! "Why 2 hours for this?" Answer: Because!
Cheers,
Crispin
Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!
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quote:
Our customers are also insurance companies. The one in the UK is the largest (I believe they are the largest insurance company in the UK) might be bathing in money but they sure are tight with it. Maybe that is the reason they can bath in it.They quesry everything! "Why 2 hours for this?" Answer: Because!
what kind of software are you programming?
Cheers,
Frank
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Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url] -
The one is a total rewrite system for the largest company in SA.
Project has been alive now for 3 years.
The other is the same stype of system but for a UK company.
Also replacy legacy system.
The old system was DOS based. When selling the prove of concept to the client, a window was open with a modal ontop of it. When the guy dragged the modal out the way to see behind it, the client was sold.
You cannot do wicked stuff like this in DOS. We were king!
Cheers,
Crispin
Cheers,CrispinI can't die, there are too many people who still have to meet me!It's not a bug, SQL just misunderstood me!
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quote:
The one is a total rewrite system for the largest company in SA.Project has been alive now for 3 years.
The other is the same stype of system but for a UK company.
Also replacy legacy system.
sounds you're working at the heart of an insurance company, the inventory maintenance?!? systems. Those system run here in our companies on mainframe because of history, reliability, processing power... At the moment there is a complete redesign of that systems. Although we were waving with some 10-15 million Euro project, there isn't a system on the market that fits all needs or isn't customizable enough. Even SAP didn't get through selection process!
Right now, I think 25% of the whole development capacity (= ~12 people) are working on this projects. for at least 2.5 years.
Rethinking was neccessary because of altered needs, unmaintenable code!!, because former developers don't work here anymore...
Cheers,
Frank
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Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url] -
There are many aspects to “programming” What specific areas hold your interest? Are you thinking as a stand-alone programmer or as a team member?
Each area effects the others. There are the technical aspects of coding, requirements and specifications, testing and deployment, and overall project management. Then there is the “art of programming”. Read Alan Cooper on the art versus craft of programming.
On the technical side, I find that spending a lot of time reading and learning from experienced authors as well as checking with people working in specific areas really helps us know the "best way" and not just the newest method of doing something. You have to always keep up on security, reliability and performance issues as well.
On the art of programming, we keep up on improvements in “programming” (or getting things done right) by talking with other programmers. From that common knowledge and experience pool we have learned that actively negotiating the final specifications and not just the initial requirements are as vital as project management.
Programming requires continuous two-way communication, something some programmers are not comfortable with. The closer you work with stakeholders the better. Make sure you assign an experienced leader to ensure input and review. Your project leader will need strong management and people skills to get the project done properly, programmers productive, and the owners satisfied.
For a great product, the full team needs to understand and agree on the focus of the application and optimize for that purpose, and not just meet discrete specifications.
A good team can really make a difference if they are invited to brainstorm alternative ways of meeting the larger organizational needs (and even just one tiny application).
To really do things right, wise firms let their IT teams input into development of candidate projects.
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hi Rob4441,
quote:
Then there is the “art of programming”. Read Alan Cooper on the art versus craft of programming.could you post the book title you meant?
This thread http://www.sqlservercentral.com/forum/link.asp?TOPIC_ID=13068 turned out to become some kind of discussion on this.
Cheers,
Frank
--
Frank Kalis
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Webmaster: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs
My blog: http://www.insidesql.org/blogs/frankkalis/[/url]
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