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When Should We Ditch Our Platform?

Posted by kdawson on from the future-shock dept.

odoketa writes "My organization recently had to replace our Web developer. It took us an extremely long time to find someone with the necessary skill set. I don't know if this is because of the platform we are running (which I will leave nameless), or simply because the fates conspiring against us. It's easy to assume that languages or platforms are popular based on buzz, but the rubber hits the road when you have to hire someone to maintain that code. How are folks out there determining when you've backed the wrong horse, and getting back on track?"

19 of 622 comments (clear)

  1. Solution by TheSpoom · · Score: 5, Funny

    Stop using FORTRAN. It really wasn't built for the web, you know.

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
    1. Re:Solution by lexarius · · Score: 5, Funny

      You'll change your mind after you see FORTRAN on Rails.

    2. Re:Solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      FORTRAN runs in Ruts, not on Rails, don't forget.

    3. Re:Solution by hullabalucination · · Score: 3, Funny

      Stop using FORTRAN. It really wasn't built for the web, you know.

      Oh, haven't you heard? HTML tables are out; layouts based on Hollerith fields are in.

  2. Which platform? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    How do you expect Slashdot readers to tell you whether to ditch your platform unless they know whether it is Microsoft or not?

    1. Re:Which platform? by blincoln · · Score: 4, Funny

      Is the site Java based? Dump that trash, because only bitches use Java.

      I didn't know Lil Jon worked in the tech industry. I suddenly feel the need to crunk-enable all of my servers.

      --
      "...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
    2. Re:Which platform? by powerlord · · Score: 4, Funny

      I wear KDEs shoes. Don't all Linux users?


      Only the Dyslexic ones.
      --
      This space for rent. All reasonable inquiries will be entertained at proprietors discretion.
    3. Re:Which platform? by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

      My hatred of Java has nothing to do with speed. The platform has become a giant morass of 'enterprisey' 'solutions' that create more need for more 'solutions'. And all Java 'solutions' must somehow involve XML, because it's standard, and enterprisey.

      Java is a gift from the Job Gods to make up for the offshoring by creating new specialists such as GUI architects, Object-Relational-Mapper Admins, XML Configuration Admins, I/O library figure-outers, etc. etc. etc.

      I'm applying for Hello World Architect by showing on my resume it can be done in under 30 Java classes.

      (Yeah, it's flamebait, but venting's therapy.)

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  3. But that would obsolete our hardware! by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Fortran works better than anything else on punch cards.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
  4. Binary is better by sjwest · · Score: 4, Funny

    we train monkeys to shout 1's and 0's at computers. The Monkeys are happy.

  5. Immediately by z-j-y · · Score: 5, Funny

    And I recommend Ruby on Rails. Its developer community has been growing exponentially, from 5 guys in 2006 to 10 guys in 2007. If you are extra conservative, you can try Groovy on Rails. It's just like Java, but better.

  6. Re:measure the hype by Kingrames · · Score: 4, Funny

    "I've found that the more a manufacturer hypes a product the more likely it is to be a flash in the pan...
    --
    When is the last time you hadn't thrown your vote away? Ron Paul even if its write-in!"

    The Irony is... overwhelming.

    --
    If you can read this, I forgot to post anonymously.
  7. My first clue is usually... by penguinstorm · · Score: 3, Funny

    when Microsoft "embraces" the platform.

    --
    Skot Nelson music is my saviour / i was maimed by rock and roll
  8. Re:Finding good web developers is hard. by sigxcpu · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pick me! I weigh less!

    - think of an add "wanted: lean, mean programmers, that are worth their weight in gold"
    - We pick the small ones, they cost less.

    --
    As of Postgres v6.2, time travel is no longer supported.
  9. Easy answer. by Colin+Smith · · Score: 4, Funny

    He wants to know, generically, how you decide that what you're using is the wrong choice. Well, that's simple. It's when you are more than two standard deviations away from the mean.
    --
    Deleted
  10. ha ha by mkcmkc · · Score: 4, Funny
    You think you're joking, but you haven't lived until you've helped someone deploy their Java-on-AS/400-based webserver (itself a front-end to their RPG-based database).

    (And no, AS/400 is not the name of an obscure Linux distro, and RPG does not mean "role playing game" or even "rocket propelled grenade"--it's much worse than that...)

    :-(

    --
    "Not an actor, but he plays one on TV."
  11. As soon as I heard this... by Weaselmancer · · Score: 3, Funny

    ..but the rubber hits the road when you have to hire someone to maintain that code...

    Soon as I heard this I envisioned pointy hair.

    --
    Weaselmancer
    rediculous.
  12. The road ahead by lennier · · Score: 3, Funny

    The rubber hits the road when you back the wrong buzzing horse off a running platform that's not on the right track, and have to ditch it.

    I love business metaphors.

    --
    You are not a brain: http://books.google.com/books?id=2oV61CeDx-YC
  13. WWGGD? by cyberfunkr · · Score: 3, Funny

    Roll a d20 and consult the correct chart.