This is be a bit off the Duke Nukem release date topic. But I work on the gameinformer.com site and just wanted to mention how freakin' excited I am that we got Slashdotted. Some people go their whole lives without ever feeling the Slashdot Effect. Wooohoooo!
Do you feel the same way?
Not anymore. I did and do about code I wrote when I first started. But I like my code now.
If so, then what is holding you back from realizing your full potential?
I learned design patterns and how to implement them. That's what's made me a better programmer.
Have any developers here successfully lobbied their company to stop or cut back on 'cowboy coding' and adopt best practices?
No because most non-programmers don't agree with the business value in it. But, implementing design patterns to solve my problems helps enormously.
Has anyone convinced their superiors that the customer isn't always right and saying no once in awhile is the best course of action?
No. Cuz the person with the money is always right, or they'll pay someone else to do it.
My boss encourages us to use extreme programming tactics such as daily status meetings, recording and tracking stories and tasks, estimating hours and code refactoring. In addition, we have a continuous build system in place (Cruise Control) and version control software (Subversion with Tortoise client). Also, we're encouraged to use a Test Driven approach and the unit tests are executed within Cruise Control. We comment our code, but I've noticed that this environment really encourages quality code, not the code commenting. So, my suggestion is to read up on agile development, scrum, and extreme programming before trying to pursue coding standards. I think you'll find those more useful in creating quality, maintainable code. That's my 1 cent.
I'm curious. I got that you were not good at communicating with others, yet you're post is the longest one I've read. Do you just have bad luck? I have a friend who had bad credit. He decided to take care of it, and he did. He focused on paying off his credit. It took him a long time, but he did it.
I also know some one who is socially "handicapped". He just doesn't get it. But, we hound on him to make conversation, and not sarcastic, trying to be witty, conversation, but just chit chat. I have problems with conversation sometimes, also. My mom's advice was to just ask people questions about themselves and listen. That usually does the trick. Sorry, didn't mean to start spitting out advice, but your post seemed pretty sincere, and I just wanted to say something about it.
Yeah, I don't think you're alone on this one. I remember wishing someone would give me some real advice. Here's what I think.
Read more books
Cook more meals
Jog in the morning
Drink less beer, not none, but a little less
Start a business, anything, something that generates revenue
Get a job, even in school, or participate in sports
DEFINITELY go to a college, sounds like you should go to a smaller school (I went to UT at Austin, I would've chosen a smaller school looking back)
Live on your own, it's scary
Travel when you can
Bad realtionships are obvious, don't ignore the obvious and end them when you have them
As I think about this, these are the things that I would tell my younger self, but, I REALLY enjoyed my younger days and going through what you're about to go through. I think I look back fondly because as I was going through college and all my experiences, I kept reminding myself that one day, I would look back and wonder how it went so fast. So, as I look back now, I wonder how it went so fast, but then I remember enjoying every minute of it. I can't help but smile and look forward to my future...and my own baby's future. Good luck. And remember, one day, you'll look back and wonder how it went so fast.
I agree with you about "lying" being wrong and companies have a responsibility to be honest about their products. But, from what I read, I agree with Apple's approach. They tried to compare apples with apples by choosing a compiler that could be used on both machines. They used a third party vendor to perform the test. They tried to configure both machines to model "real" world use (keyword "model"). Not some pristine lab condition with techies fine tuning the machines to perform optimaly, but more like my computer here at my house, using it the way I'm using it right now. To me, that kind of test, one that models the real world, is more meaningful than one that you'd have to be in a clean room to duplicate.
I think your dilema is still up to whoever "provides" Xbox Live. If you're being "cheated" out of play/use, then subscribe to another product, though I realize there may not be one. But, the point is, vote with your money, if the product is not doing what you want/expect, buy a different product. I don't agree with cheating, but the company that provides the product should learn from their mistakes and make a better product, or be beaten by other companies that do.
This is not a good challenge for me. I bought my G4 BECAUSE it runs Mac OS X. It does what I want it to do and I was willing to pay for that functionality. If I was unable/unwilling to pay for that functionality, I would then try and find a way to use what I had (mod an x86 machine) to run Mac OS X. That should be legal if i buy Mac OS X and either buy or build all of the required hardware/software. Also, it should be legal if I use it for my own, personal use. If I contemplated selling the solution, that's a different story. I'm fortunate not to be in that situation, though. You know, I think the MAIN issue here is that Microsoft/Big Companies want to control the consumer's habits instead of the consumer controlling their product decisions.
While reading this article, I just got the feeling that we are now in an era where the companies are right, and the consumers are wrong. It used to be the other way around. Also, maybe copyright owners of digital products should sue Microsoft for providing the tools to steal their digital products?
I agree with you about the consipiracy bit, and even on the fact that just because the signal is in "your space" you can't just view it without consent from the sending organization. But this guy didn't steal the service. He built a tool that can read satellite signals. He shouldn't have built that tool because his intentions were criminal, but he didn't do anything but build a tool. The user that actually uses the tool to view the signal is the thief, in my opinion.
I support Bush's decision to oust the Baath party for not only what I feel he would do in the future, but for his past behavior, his non-compliance to UN regulations, and his brutality towards humanity-in general, to mention a few reasons. I don't support the court's decision in this situation because he just built a tool. How that tool is used depends on the user. The user, in opinion, would have been the criminal. As for the punishment, I'm not even focusing on that, it's the fact that the court actually allowed the case in court and decide for the plaintiff that bother's me.
I guess this establishes precedence to sue/charge anyone who builds a hammer, sells it to a car thief who uses it to break my windshield and steal my car. Is this the same line of logic, or not? Am I missing something? I saw a reply to this post calling for "us" to get off our buts and do something instead of just talking about it. So, I'll "vote" with my money and not use satellite services. I've already decided not to buy an music CDs...
Slashdot Mirror
This is be a bit off the Duke Nukem release date topic. But I work on the gameinformer.com site and just wanted to mention how freakin' excited I am that we got Slashdotted. Some people go their whole lives without ever feeling the Slashdot Effect. Wooohoooo!
quit. That's the only solution I've found. Find a job with flex time so you can create a practical workout schedule during your day.
Do you feel the same way? Not anymore. I did and do about code I wrote when I first started. But I like my code now. If so, then what is holding you back from realizing your full potential? I learned design patterns and how to implement them. That's what's made me a better programmer. Have any developers here successfully lobbied their company to stop or cut back on 'cowboy coding' and adopt best practices? No because most non-programmers don't agree with the business value in it. But, implementing design patterns to solve my problems helps enormously. Has anyone convinced their superiors that the customer isn't always right and saying no once in awhile is the best course of action? No. Cuz the person with the money is always right, or they'll pay someone else to do it.
That's what's interesting..uh, funny.
My boss encourages us to use extreme programming tactics such as daily status meetings, recording and tracking stories and tasks, estimating hours and code refactoring. In addition, we have a continuous build system in place (Cruise Control) and version control software (Subversion with Tortoise client). Also, we're encouraged to use a Test Driven approach and the unit tests are executed within Cruise Control. We comment our code, but I've noticed that this environment really encourages quality code, not the code commenting. So, my suggestion is to read up on agile development, scrum, and extreme programming before trying to pursue coding standards. I think you'll find those more useful in creating quality, maintainable code. That's my 1 cent.
I'm curious. I got that you were not good at communicating with others, yet you're post is the longest one I've read. Do you just have bad luck? I have a friend who had bad credit. He decided to take care of it, and he did. He focused on paying off his credit. It took him a long time, but he did it.
I also know some one who is socially "handicapped". He just doesn't get it. But, we hound on him to make conversation, and not sarcastic, trying to be witty, conversation, but just chit chat. I have problems with conversation sometimes, also. My mom's advice was to just ask people questions about themselves and listen. That usually does the trick. Sorry, didn't mean to start spitting out advice, but your post seemed pretty sincere, and I just wanted to say something about it.
Yeah, I don't think you're alone on this one. I remember wishing someone would give me some real advice. Here's what I think.
As I think about this, these are the things that I would tell my younger self, but, I REALLY enjoyed my younger days and going through what you're about to go through. I think I look back fondly because as I was going through college and all my experiences, I kept reminding myself that one day, I would look back and wonder how it went so fast. So, as I look back now, I wonder how it went so fast, but then I remember enjoying every minute of it. I can't help but smile and look forward to my future...and my own baby's future. Good luck. And remember, one day, you'll look back and wonder how it went so fast.
I agree with you about "lying" being wrong and companies have a responsibility to be honest about their products. But, from what I read, I agree with Apple's approach. They tried to compare apples with apples by choosing a compiler that could be used on both machines. They used a third party vendor to perform the test. They tried to configure both machines to model "real" world use (keyword "model"). Not some pristine lab condition with techies fine tuning the machines to perform optimaly, but more like my computer here at my house, using it the way I'm using it right now. To me, that kind of test, one that models the real world, is more meaningful than one that you'd have to be in a clean room to duplicate.
I don't want this. So what do we do to stop going along this "path"? Any suggestions?
My thought is don't blame anyone. Just don't give them your money if they don't provide a good service/product. Vote with your money!
I think your dilema is still up to whoever "provides" Xbox Live. If you're being "cheated" out of play/use, then subscribe to another product, though I realize there may not be one. But, the point is, vote with your money, if the product is not doing what you want/expect, buy a different product. I don't agree with cheating, but the company that provides the product should learn from their mistakes and make a better product, or be beaten by other companies that do.
This is not a good challenge for me. I bought my G4 BECAUSE it runs Mac OS X. It does what I want it to do and I was willing to pay for that functionality. If I was unable/unwilling to pay for that functionality, I would then try and find a way to use what I had (mod an x86 machine) to run Mac OS X. That should be legal if i buy Mac OS X and either buy or build all of the required hardware/software. Also, it should be legal if I use it for my own, personal use. If I contemplated selling the solution, that's a different story. I'm fortunate not to be in that situation, though. You know, I think the MAIN issue here is that Microsoft/Big Companies want to control the consumer's habits instead of the consumer controlling their product decisions.
While reading this article, I just got the feeling that we are now in an era where the companies are right, and the consumers are wrong. It used to be the other way around. Also, maybe copyright owners of digital products should sue Microsoft for providing the tools to steal their digital products?
I agree with you about the consipiracy bit, and even on the fact that just because the signal is in "your space" you can't just view it without consent from the sending organization. But this guy didn't steal the service. He built a tool that can read satellite signals. He shouldn't have built that tool because his intentions were criminal, but he didn't do anything but build a tool. The user that actually uses the tool to view the signal is the thief, in my opinion.
I support Bush's decision to oust the Baath party for not only what I feel he would do in the future, but for his past behavior, his non-compliance to UN regulations, and his brutality towards humanity-in general, to mention a few reasons. I don't support the court's decision in this situation because he just built a tool. How that tool is used depends on the user. The user, in opinion, would have been the criminal. As for the punishment, I'm not even focusing on that, it's the fact that the court actually allowed the case in court and decide for the plaintiff that bother's me.
I think that statement's a little unfair. I don't believe any government or society has perfected their judiciary system. I doubt they could...
I guess this establishes precedence to sue/charge anyone who builds a hammer, sells it to a car thief who uses it to break my windshield and steal my car. Is this the same line of logic, or not? Am I missing something? I saw a reply to this post calling for "us" to get off our buts and do something instead of just talking about it. So, I'll "vote" with my money and not use satellite services. I've already decided not to buy an music CDs...