It seems that everyone wants to start a "my language is better than your language" debate. C'mon guys, we're supposed to be able to grasp the fundamental concepts of placing logic instructions into a machine that does things with it. It doesn't matter what language you use.
I can tell you already that in Australia my old university has all its fundamental programming classes in Java (another down the road in Smalltalk) now.
Of course that means that everytime we apply for jobs in the states they ask not how easily we can pick up a language, but rather what specific language we know.
I don't think you have to be worried about what language your tests are in, but whether prospective employers will acknowledge your ability to program (in whatever language you need to adapt to) or just ask you if you can do it in one particular language because it's "this week's e-word".
Australian Addendum to notice
1. The English can't play rugby either, it's up to us Aussies to show you how it's done
2. it's pronounced Mel-Ben not Mel-Born
3. Australians didn't need a revolution, we just keep humiliating the Poms (British) at sport instead - it has a more ongoing quality
4. SPELL YOUR WORDS WITH "S" NOT BLOODY "Z"!!! It's realise not realize etc.
5. That girly game you call football? Try Aussie Rules, Rugby Union, Rugby Leauge or any other sport where you don't wear your own personal rollbar - for crying out loud - don't you see that that's really girly
6. Australians will and always will be able to drink Americans, English (and anyone else on the planet) under the table.
7. Foster's beer is crap
8. Kangaroos do not bounce down the city streets in metropolitan centres of Australia
consider youself addendummed (or something), but always remember - spell with the S!
In what the FBI has labelled a blatant act of terrorism, computer hackers have corrupted the US Patent Office computers with hundreds of thousands of hoax patents. Spokesman for the USPTO, Mr Smith stated "it's a mess. There's no way of telling the real patents from the fake ones as they all look the same, sound the same and most likely would have been approved." The USPTO is considering nullifying all patents for the last ten years because of the catistrophic affect this has had on the department.
Spokesperson for the authorities, Mr Hall calls this latest hacker attack "a blatant attack on democracy. These hackers are terrorists, they have ingeniously disguised the fake patents as real ones". Early reports suggest that the entire catastrophe started when a USPTO employee inadvetantly opened a computer virus contained in an email.
Authorities are urging everyone to take precautions and never open email with the subject title "5cr1p7 k1dd135 0wnz j00". Hall said to us earlier today "they are obviously geniuses, devoted to lives of crime. I wouln't be surprised if they are ex-KGB operatives. We think they might be linked to recent attempts to steal nuclear weapons." as yet the authorities have not been able to decipher the cryptic email title.
Consider that there was probably a time once when someone talented and insightful in the arts of healing would have been called a Doctor. Today though, in order to become a doctor, one must study and obtain an education in order to provide a decent level of service to their patients (and perhaps a higher survival rate)
I believe that in the long term, that as technology and sophistication od systems become more elaborate, then degree standard education should be considered essential. If there appears to be no effectiveness in such degree programmes, then the question of why should be put forward.
While the current climate in information technology is in its embyonic stages, the time is swiftly approaching where companies and organisations will be asking you "Are you a Professional Engineer" and with such a question comes the the fact of Personal Liability. Software Engineering will truly become a professional discipline rather than a meaningless "tag" we give to people in the industry when they, as other engineering disciplines before them; take responsibility for our actions, and are prepared to deliver software products "on time, and on budget", and take responsibility for this commitment.
#include
It's a question of economics.
If one makes their livelihood from developing an application, they should not be under any obligation to release their code. If they do then that's all well and good. But the question remains: how much would people pay for their hard work and effort.
Unfortunately, there seem to be many people that hop on the Open-source bandwagon, not for the principles of the idea, but rather the fact that they can get something for nothing.
Consider also: Larger corporations releasing the source of their product does not cost them anything. Their developers still get paid and their PR department gets to say "we are cool, we're open source". However, what about the bloke working in his garage or the small group of friends starting out trying to keep their heads above water in an extremely competitive market. The fact is, the only organisations that can afford to open-source are those that can afford to bear the cost of losing that revenue stream.
In the context of the bigger picture: Closed source will still be around despite what is projected by the research. Why? Because some people feel they should be paid for their effort.
No doubt, this will bring out the zealots, but I see people that I have worked with slave-away to produce their products and all they get in return is an email account full of "this should be free, open source it man".
I have no problems with going out to a store and buying another persons product. Why? Because it's my way of saying I appreciate their work and effort in bringing me something that I wish to use.
If anything, I believe that ID software's model of opening source code once they have made their profits from the product is the best idea. They still get to make some money and continue to build new stuff, while people can poke around and improve older stuff (JDoom etc).
Daniel
Slashdot Mirror
It seems that everyone wants to start a "my language is better than your language" debate. C'mon guys, we're supposed to be able to grasp the fundamental concepts of placing logic instructions into a machine that does things with it. It doesn't matter what language you use.
I can tell you already that in Australia my old university has all its fundamental programming classes in Java (another down the road in Smalltalk) now.
Of course that means that everytime we apply for jobs in the states they ask not how easily we can pick up a language, but rather what specific language we know.
I don't think you have to be worried about what language your tests are in, but whether prospective employers will acknowledge your ability to program (in whatever language you need to adapt to) or just ask you if you can do it in one particular language because it's "this week's e-word".
Dan
1. The English can't play rugby either, it's up to us Aussies to show you how it's done
2. it's pronounced Mel-Ben not Mel-Born
3. Australians didn't need a revolution, we just keep humiliating the Poms (British) at sport instead - it has a more ongoing quality
4. SPELL YOUR WORDS WITH "S" NOT BLOODY "Z"!!! It's realise not realize etc.
5. That girly game you call football? Try Aussie Rules, Rugby Union, Rugby Leauge or any other sport where you don't wear your own personal rollbar - for crying out loud - don't you see that that's really girly
6. Australians will and always will be able to drink Americans, English (and anyone else on the planet) under the table.
7. Foster's beer is crap
8. Kangaroos do not bounce down the city streets in metropolitan centres of Australia
consider youself addendummed (or something), but always remember - spell with the S!
[insert media sensationalist rant]
HACKERS Patent Air
In what the FBI has labelled a blatant act of terrorism, computer hackers have corrupted the US Patent Office computers with hundreds of thousands of hoax patents. Spokesman for the USPTO, Mr Smith stated "it's a mess. There's no way of telling the real patents from the fake ones as they all look the same, sound the same and most likely would have been approved." The USPTO is considering nullifying all patents for the last ten years because of the catistrophic affect this has had on the department.
Spokesperson for the authorities, Mr Hall calls this latest hacker attack "a blatant attack on democracy. These hackers are terrorists, they have ingeniously disguised the fake patents as real ones". Early reports suggest that the entire catastrophe started when a USPTO employee inadvetantly opened a computer virus contained in an email.
Authorities are urging everyone to take precautions and never open email with the subject title "5cr1p7 k1dd135 0wnz j00". Hall said to us earlier today "they are obviously geniuses, devoted to lives of crime. I wouln't be surprised if they are ex-KGB operatives. We think they might be linked to recent attempts to steal nuclear weapons." as yet the authorities have not been able to decipher the cryptic email title.
[end sensationalist media rant]
AcidDan
Where is Information Technology headed?
Consider that there was probably a time once when someone talented and insightful in the arts of healing would have been called a Doctor. Today though, in order to become a doctor, one must study and obtain an education in order to provide a decent level of service to their patients (and perhaps a higher survival rate)
I believe that in the long term, that as technology and sophistication od systems become more elaborate, then degree standard education should be considered essential. If there appears to be no effectiveness in such degree programmes, then the question of why should be put forward.
While the current climate in information technology is in its embyonic stages, the time is swiftly approaching where companies and organisations will be asking you "Are you a Professional Engineer" and with such a question comes the the fact of Personal Liability. Software Engineering will truly become a professional discipline rather than a meaningless "tag" we give to people in the industry when they, as other engineering disciplines before them; take responsibility for our actions, and are prepared to deliver software products "on time, and on budget", and take responsibility for this commitment.
Daniel
<2cents>
#include It's a question of economics. If one makes their livelihood from developing an application, they should not be under any obligation to release their code. If they do then that's all well and good. But the question remains: how much would people pay for their hard work and effort. Unfortunately, there seem to be many people that hop on the Open-source bandwagon, not for the principles of the idea, but rather the fact that they can get something for nothing. Consider also: Larger corporations releasing the source of their product does not cost them anything. Their developers still get paid and their PR department gets to say "we are cool, we're open source". However, what about the bloke working in his garage or the small group of friends starting out trying to keep their heads above water in an extremely competitive market. The fact is, the only organisations that can afford to open-source are those that can afford to bear the cost of losing that revenue stream. In the context of the bigger picture: Closed source will still be around despite what is projected by the research. Why? Because some people feel they should be paid for their effort. No doubt, this will bring out the zealots, but I see people that I have worked with slave-away to produce their products and all they get in return is an email account full of "this should be free, open source it man". I have no problems with going out to a store and buying another persons product. Why? Because it's my way of saying I appreciate their work and effort in bringing me something that I wish to use. If anything, I believe that ID software's model of opening source code once they have made their profits from the product is the best idea. They still get to make some money and continue to build new stuff, while people can poke around and improve older stuff (JDoom etc). Daniel