Dragon vs. Hydra - Competing Development Styles

peterofoz writes "You may recall that we discussed a company which was recruiting talent with a puzzle last December. This turned out to be n-Brain releasing a new product that allows multiple editors to modify the same code in real time to support the collaborative programming paradigm. Now they're back with another challenge: 'Are two heads really better than one? N-BRAIN, Inc. intends to definitively answer this question by sponsoring the Hydra Versus Dragon Coding Competition, a Reality TV-style battle between the world's finest software developers.' Mark June 23rd on your calendars." While n-Brain clearly intends this to promote their software, it will be interesting to see if the competition results support their theory of collaborative development.

Comments

Dragon for the Win

[antirelic]

Even though Dragons and Hydra's have roughly the same hit dice, lets face it, Dragons have a much lower AC and can deal and take alot more damage. Plus the fact that they can fly...

Wait... I'm gonna go read the summary quick...

Now there's an idea!

[consonant]

A coding reality show on TV! Watch the dragon takeon the hydra! Damn, that would make some compelling television. I'd even accept it on pay-per-view!

"Watch seasoned developers and greenhorn programming prodigies square off their skills against each other! The algorithms will clash and the development environments will see sparks fly!"

I'd say the second episode of this series would be a vi vs emacs thing..

p.s: and vi would win ;)

You Agree, Quarrel?

[FurtiveGlancer]

Doesn't that negate your cool handle?

Seriously, I follow the advice of one particular grey-beard from my past, "Software ain't hardware and programmers ain't people." Programmers tend to be different: from secretaries, from accountants and from each other. The hardest part of successful coding or successful support is integrating whom you have into the best structure (or lack thereof) that you can establish to get the work done. Done well, it's a joy to behold. Done poorly, it's the Army.

And then there's the third theory:

[Antique Geekmeister]

Theo de Raadt.

Re:What vs. what?

[Mr. Bad Example]

> A quick browse through TFA completely fails to inform me what the "Dragon" and "Hydra"
> in question actually are, other than that "Dragon" is something or other traditional
> and "Hydra" is some kind of ZOMG amazing new silver bullet.
>
> Anyone who understands the buzzwords care to cut the crap and explain what this is actually all about?

All I know is that if someone doesn't travel to someone else's dojo and humiliate him in front of his master, I'm going to be sorely disappointed.

Starcraft Reference

[sadgoblin]

dragoon > hydra

I want to compete

[Ilan Volow]

Simply for the hot groupies who will obviously throw their bodies at me when I win.