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Hackers As Factory Workers?

Posted by timothy on from the but-zey-are-artistes dept.

DevDude writes "A strangely interesting article is running on MSDN, entitled: The Case for Software Factories. It suggests creating 'development environments configured to support the rapid development of a specific type of application.' As a developer thrust into many an unsavory situation, I am constantly stepping in the remnants of some development methodology or other. Will super-specialization of software development teams help the industry to push out better software faster? Or are we hassled enough without being treated as an assembly line?"

7 of 342 comments (clear)

  1. And while we're at it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do programmers really need to sleep and eat? What if we just give them implants and let them plug themselves into nutrient/rest bays at the factory? I'm sure it would be quite a bit more efficient. It worked well for the Borg.

    1. Re:And while we're at it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Wow, you just invented my new catch phrase. "It worked well for the Borg!"

    2. Re:And while we're at it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Do programmers really need to sleep and eat?

      No. It's called amphetamine. :)

  2. Re:Libraries... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    won't he just develop libraries so that any subsequent app will take less than an hour to code?

    Shhhh! You want my boss to find out I spend 39 hours a week reading Slashdot??

  3. Food chain-Bowling for IT. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "It disturbs me that the general public and MBA types don't seem to understand how difficult software actually is."

    Apparently it's "difficult" enough that our jobs are going overseas.

    "The good news is that believing that all programmers are the equal doesn't make it so. Any company who wants to try this experiment does so at its own peril."

    Tell Microsoft that.

  4. kinda true, but... by llimllib · · Score: 2, Funny
    Yes, Microsoft does hire very smart people while recommending that companies hire the people with the right buzzwords. The reason that the companies that they sell software to can get away with people who are less smart/qualified than MS's people is that they are usually all developing in-house, form-based, data entry applications. These comprise the large majority (IMNSHO) of business applications, and it doesn't take a PHd to write one.

    In fact, it would be detrimental to have a PHd working on one. Thus, the companies can have a person that will take their orders well, while MS can hire people that will (hopefully) develop well.

  5. Re:Libraries... by xygorn · · Score: 2, Funny
    Companies today have realized that anyone can operate a wench
    You made my day. I'll be chuckling all through my final exams this afternoon.
    --
    I am a sig. I wish I were a more creative sig, but I am not. I guess everyone has something to strive for.