As a Mgr., I think having a degree is important for the following reasons:
1) Degrees are often a pre-qualify tool for HR along with experience. Together, they provide Mgmt. with peace-of-mind that they don't have a bunch of hacks working for them.
2) While it is possible to get an IT job without a degree, you'll increasingly be competing with others that have it. Given a choice, Mgrs. will generally prefer the person with a degree.
3) Certs complement degrees and experience, they're not a replacement for either.
4) Exposure to a broad range of topics directly and indirectly related to IT
Unfortunately, attaining a degree has become so costly in the US that many have decided not to pursue it. This is the real issue that needs to be addressed.
Look these guys had a real opportunity to produce something of substance. Instead, made campy programs of little to no technical value. Hopefully, Comcast can turn things around as I still believe there are some really good programming ideas that could be established.
There are just so many areas of technology to be covered. For instance, a one hour computer history program which would air weekly feature retrospectives on computer history.
For goodness sake fellow developers can an open-mindedness towards this matter not be kept?. I get chills thinking of what the developer commnunity is becoming when I see such drone like responses. C#/Java?--maybe...but also maybe Eiffel, Smalltalk, objective-c, Ocaml, Rebol, Python, Ruby, Perl, etc. OSS is about choice so I see no reason why the same cannot be applied to development languages. If the project is done in Eiffel then so be it and I'll look forward to the challenge of learning a new programming language.
Sun is really missing the boat. The fact is that they have the best commercial version of UNIX in Solaris the most popular development language in Java and a thriving hardware platform in UltraSparc.
What the hell is the problem?...Perception!!.
Through lousy PR, Advertising and Mismanagement Sun is imploding.
Suggest they do the following:
1) Solaris is the only OS they need, release workstation and server versions of Solaris for Sparc and Intel. Work more closely with third party vendors.
2) Rearchitect Java from the ground up and simplify. Java has more wrong with it then right but no one will admit this. As an OOP language, Smalltalk is far better. Sun could take a lesson or two from Squeak
Stop trying to make Java all things to all people. It's a waste of time and effort.
3) I love their computers and think they could do more here. They need to realize that they can sell low-end versions of Ultrasparc to the average consumer if their prices are reasonable and they back it up with strong applications, technical support, and marketing. Yes, they can branch out of the server room and onto the desktop.
4) Get a decent Advertising and PR firm for christ's sake!.
5) Linux is not the enemy but another platform, that is all. Those that want to make it more than that are just as bad as the Java zealots.
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As a Mgr., I think having a degree is important for the following reasons:
1) Degrees are often a pre-qualify tool for HR along with experience. Together, they provide Mgmt. with peace-of-mind that they don't have a bunch of hacks working for them.
2) While it is possible to get an IT job without a degree, you'll increasingly be competing with others that have it. Given a choice, Mgrs. will generally prefer the person with a degree.
3) Certs complement degrees and experience, they're not a replacement for either.
4) Exposure to a broad range of topics directly and indirectly related to IT
Unfortunately, attaining a degree has become so costly in the US that many have decided not to pursue it. This is the real issue that needs to be addressed.
I believe education at all levels should be free
Empower him to do his job better by making your expertise readily available when requested.
Look these guys had a real opportunity to produce something of substance. Instead, made campy programs of little to no technical value. Hopefully, Comcast can turn things around as I still believe there are some really good programming ideas that could be established. There are just so many areas of technology to be covered. For instance, a one hour computer history program which would air weekly feature retrospectives on computer history.
For goodness sake fellow developers can an open-mindedness towards this matter not be kept?. I get chills thinking of what the developer commnunity is becoming when I see such drone like responses. C#/Java?--maybe...but also maybe Eiffel, Smalltalk, objective-c, Ocaml, Rebol, Python, Ruby, Perl, etc. OSS is about choice so I see no reason why the same cannot be applied to development languages. If the project is done in Eiffel then so be it and I'll look forward to the challenge of learning a new programming language.
Size Matters Not!...
Empire Strikes Back: Jedi Master YodaSun is really missing the boat. The fact is that they have the best commercial version of UNIX in Solaris the most popular development language in Java and a thriving hardware platform in UltraSparc.
What the hell is the problem?...Perception!!. Through lousy PR, Advertising and Mismanagement Sun is imploding.
Suggest they do the following:
1) Solaris is the only OS they need, release workstation and server versions of Solaris for Sparc and Intel. Work more closely with third party vendors.
2) Rearchitect Java from the ground up and simplify. Java has more wrong with it then right but no one will admit this. As an OOP language, Smalltalk is far better. Sun could take a lesson or two from Squeak Stop trying to make Java all things to all people. It's a waste of time and effort.
3) I love their computers and think they could do more here. They need to realize that they can sell low-end versions of Ultrasparc to the average consumer if their prices are reasonable and they back it up with strong applications, technical support, and marketing. Yes, they can branch out of the server room and onto the desktop.
4) Get a decent Advertising and PR firm for christ's sake!.
5) Linux is not the enemy but another platform, that is all. Those that want to make it more than that are just as bad as the Java zealots.