I think it's more accurate to say that lawmakers enact legislation which benefits their campaign-financiers. This happens even when neither is a lawyer. However, one thing that's for sure: the campaign financiers are multi-national corporations.
"and able to tell them that scope creep will cost more and slow things down"
Too few resources and unanticipated setbacks should have been padded out beforehand to be honest. As someone once said, if I had six hours to cut down a tree, I'd spend four hours sharpening the axe. If that doesn't happen, its a management failure.
I suppose it depends on how one defines "unanticipated".
That may be the case but that doesn't mean we should just stick with a flawed method of judging people based on hours put in just because it can be hard to judge people based on results.
Agreed. I think the best measure we've found is to have a manager who both is a seasoned software developer and is well-versed in the project on which the staff are working.
Its not really. Specifications -> result. That does depend on having a manager sufficiently on the ball to have constant contact with sales and marketing though, and able to tell them that scope creep will cost more and slow things down.
Really I'm amazed that results based metrics aren't standard everywhere, I've worked with companies where management doesn't care when people show up as long as they meet their milestones. A company that puts "time at your desk" before "results" will be eaten by one that has the two in the correct order.
A number of real-world issues can and do stymie your proposal:
Specs change mid-project.
Developers are often given fewer resources than they say is necessary for a job.
Sometimes original project plans fail to anticipate technical problems that will be discovered as the software is being designed and/or validated.
In my experience, the best "metric" is having a seasoned software development managers, who's well versed in the details of the project and knows the software developers, to rate each programmer relative to the expectations of that programmer's position.
Tying employment to health insurance has lots of downsides, and this is one of them. Without that coupling, there would typically be no reason for employers to know anything at all about what you do in private outside of working hours.
IANAL, but I think antitrust requires that you both (a) have a monopoly, and (b) use tying to extend your monopoly into new areas.
My guess is that because MS doesn't have a monopoly on the tablet market in general, extending their control over the OS into control over app distribution, on their platform only, isn't antitrust.
Except that Jammie Thomas already tried that defense in two separate jury trials, and lost both times. An open wifi does not give you plausible deniability.
Good point. But I'm curious whether or not people with different lawyers and juries would get the same outcome.
For someone up to no good, I'm not sure that securing WiFi is smart move.
If someone has an open wifi, and something illegal (copyrighted content, kiddie porn, etc.) is downloaded via his IP, the person has plausible deniability that he himself did the downloading.
If that persons has secured his WiFi with a password, then I would think he's more likely to get convicted.
I haven't played D3, but I've played TL1 and D2, and I've now played through TL2.
Cons: In my opinion, the storytelling of TL2 is somewhat less compelling and expansive than was that of D2. Also, the D2 had good cinematics, and most (all?) of its narration was recorded voices, rather than just text that you have to read.
Pros: Lots of fun, low hardware requirements, good randomization of maps. Fun approach to playing random maps after you beat the game (I'm not going to spoil it.) No DRM.
And last but not least, it's a great entertainment value for $20. Money very well in my case. From the reviews, I don't think I would have considered $60 for D3 to be a worthwhile purchase.
I think Kickstarter can maybe help with the profitability issue.
I would think that for most developers, there's some number of dollars, no matter how large, that would make them willing do to a Linux port. The key is getting developers to go for this.
For example, I would have figured that the Torchlight 2 developers would be up for attempting a Linux port funded by Kickstarter, since they're also supporting Mac. But they're pretty plainly saying they're not interested in pursuing a Linux port. Not sure why.
Slashdot Mirror
Wow, it's been years since someone reminded me of the comicbook store guy in the Simpsons. Thanks!
I believe the federal government exempts itself from patent law anyway.
Nope.
At the expense of everyone else.
I think it's more accurate to say that lawmakers enact legislation which benefits their campaign-financiers. This happens even when neither is a lawyer. However, one thing that's for sure: the campaign financiers are multi-national corporations.
"and able to tell them that scope creep will cost more and slow things down"
Too few resources and unanticipated setbacks should have been padded out beforehand to be honest. As someone once said, if I had six hours to cut down a tree, I'd spend four hours sharpening the axe. If that doesn't happen, its a management failure.
I suppose it depends on how one defines "unanticipated".
That may be the case but that doesn't mean we should just stick with a flawed method of judging people based on hours put in just because it can be hard to judge people based on results.
Agreed. I think the best measure we've found is to have a manager who both is a seasoned software developer and is well-versed in the project on which the staff are working.
Ah, the joys of working for f'ed up companies. Good times, good times...
Bummer that you had to stay there long-enough to get that check.
Dear sir,
If this company is till in business, please let us know its name, and whether or not they're hiring.
Sincerely,
98% of the programmers on the planet.
Its not really. Specifications -> result. That does depend on having a manager sufficiently on the ball to have constant contact with sales and marketing though, and able to tell them that scope creep will cost more and slow things down.
Really I'm amazed that results based metrics aren't standard everywhere, I've worked with companies where management doesn't care when people show up as long as they meet their milestones. A company that puts "time at your desk" before "results" will be eaten by one that has the two in the correct order.
A number of real-world issues can and do stymie your proposal:
In my experience, the best "metric" is having a seasoned software development managers, who's well versed in the details of the project and knows the software developers, to rate each programmer relative to the expectations of that programmer's position.
Judging employees by results is great, if you have a good way to measure results.
This is notoriously difficult in creative, team efforts such a software development.
Sometimes people on Slashdot fail to recognize that the details provided in a post were just to lay the groundwork for a joke.
Tying employment to health insurance has lots of downsides, and this is one of them. Without that coupling, there would typically be no reason for employers to know anything at all about what you do in private outside of working hours.
I'm trying to remember, who are the bad guys here, the law-breaking, savings-stealing douchebags, or the guys running the botnet?
They're not creating the element gold from another element, they're extracting it from a compound.
Do you think that apple nowadays is more focus on patents than innovation and users ?? And whats your opinion about patents & innovation ?
Thanks,
Carlos B
This sounds to me like arguably a false dichotomy. At least until you clarify the question.
IANAL, but I think antitrust requires that you both (a) have a monopoly, and (b) use tying to extend your monopoly into new areas.
My guess is that because MS doesn't have a monopoly on the tablet market in general, extending their control over the OS into control over app distribution, on their platform only, isn't antitrust.
Except that Jammie Thomas already tried that defense in two separate jury trials, and lost both times. An open wifi does not give you plausible deniability.
Good point. But I'm curious whether or not people with different lawyers and juries would get the same outcome.
For someone up to no good, I'm not sure that securing WiFi is smart move.
If someone has an open wifi, and something illegal (copyrighted content, kiddie porn, etc.) is downloaded via his IP, the person has plausible deniability that he himself did the downloading.
If that persons has secured his WiFi with a password, then I would think he's more likely to get convicted.
If MS wants the U.S. to educate its workers, then perhaps MS needs to stop looking for ways to pay U.S. taxes.
Oh, that's right. MS just wants the other U.S. taxpayers to increase MS's profits. I forgot.
I haven't played D3, but I've played TL1 and D2, and I've now played through TL2.
Cons: In my opinion, the storytelling of TL2 is somewhat less compelling and expansive than was that of D2. Also, the D2 had good cinematics, and most (all?) of its narration was recorded voices, rather than just text that you have to read.
Pros: Lots of fun, low hardware requirements, good randomization of maps. Fun approach to playing random maps after you beat the game (I'm not going to spoil it.) No DRM.
And last but not least, it's a great entertainment value for $20. Money very well in my case. From the reviews, I don't think I would have considered $60 for D3 to be a worthwhile purchase.
Now where are they going to find those rare Java programmers who will work at "reasonable" rates?
Oops. Fair point.
Typewriter?
If you can find just one or two models for which ribbon is still manufacturer, you could probably get some donations of compatible manual typewriters.
I realize it' a stretch, but it's not a completely impossible idea.
It's like being dumped by the dorkiest fat kid in school.
I think Kickstarter can maybe help with the profitability issue.
I would think that for most developers, there's some number of dollars, no matter how large, that would make them willing do to a Linux port. The key is getting developers to go for this.
For example, I would have figured that the Torchlight 2 developers would be up for attempting a Linux port funded by Kickstarter, since they're also supporting Mac. But they're pretty plainly saying they're not interested in pursuing a Linux port. Not sure why.