And once more, I completely agree with you. Financial applications are boring as hell. A lot of the projects that I work on are considered "mission critical" in their specific field, but bore me to tears.
I don't know about 3 companies running all of Eastern Europe's finances, but I can tell you in America we have a lot of companies that do very different things. Mortgages, stock market trading, banking, credit cards... they all have very specific business rules and do very different things depending on how the company is structured. While some systems are similar there are definitely not 2000 systems all doing the same thing.
What it comes down to is there are companies that need solutions for their specific business practices and they're willing to pay well for them. While I try to pick projects that are challenging or have a unique twist to them, at the end of the day I have bills to pay.
I would tend to agree with Mr. Duleba. I don't think this reflects on the intelligence of American programmers, it reflects on our work schedules. I'm 22 just like Mr. Duleba, and I would love to enter contests like this just for the fun of it... I just don't have the time.
I'm gainfully employed building financial systems and whatever other contracts I'm working on. As Mr. Duleba was saying, I think it reflects more the economic state of some of the Eastern European countries. There is a lot of talent, but not a lot of opportunity. A little publicity from a contest like this can make you more viable to employers and give you an edge on the competition.
I'll second this. I graduated high school in 2001 with two years worth of C++ (counted as a math credit). In my spare time I worked with Perl, PHP and now Java. Fast forward five years and I'm now a successful contractor doing mostly Java development.
Back then I had an excellent teacher with experience going back to the punch card days. He was good at what he did, and he had a genuine sense of "giving something back". After many years in the commercial sector he wanted to help educate the next generation of programmers so he took the teaching job.
Great teachers are out there. Unfortunately, they seem to be few and far between... but that begs the question: after we're all done conquering the commercial sector and ready to retire will we feel any obligation to devote some of our time to educating others?
why aren't any of the cool and useful websites being created with java on the back-end ?
Honestly, I believe the problem here is more with Java developers than Java itself. Java developers are constantly trying to overwrite their code (as in writing more than necessary, not saving over an existing file:). Instead of using the KISS mentality, everything has to have an XML configuration file and object factory. Java devs are typically very black and white, code to the requirements, check off the features on their checklists, etc.
On the other hand, Google has said they use Java for a number of applications. It's a great tool in the right hands.
why has java been relegated to the enterprise space only ?
A number of reasons... PHBs feel more comfortable with a "proven" solution with "corporate backing" versus all that pony tail and birkenstock hippie open source stuff (kidding!). Also, the creative types that typically make the 'innovative' web applications usually shy away from the corporate stigma that Java has. See the above comment. Java developers are typically viewed as corporate shills.
why is java almost dead on the desktop ?
I'll concede that this is due to Java itself. AWT sucked, Swing is marginally better... SWT seems to be the way to go but since Sun didn't invent it they're not going to back it.
what are you smoking Gosling...when you say that java is still evolving ?
Do you own a newer cell phone? Does it have cool features like text messaging and possibly web browsing? If so, your phone more than likely runs J2ME.
why aren't any of the cool and useful websites being created with java on the back-end ?
Honestly, I believe the problem here is more with Java developers than Java itself. Java developers are constantly trying to overwrite their code (as in writing more than necessary, not saving over an existing file:). Instead of using the KISS mentality, everything has to have an XML configuration file and object factory. Java devs are typically very black and white, code to the requirements, check off the features on their checklists, etc.
On the other hand, Google has said they use Java for a number of applications. It's a great tool in the right hands.
why has java been relegated to the enterprise space only ?
A number of reasons... PHBs feel more comfortable with a "proven" solution with "corporate backing" versus all that pony tail and birkenstock hippie open source stuff (kidding!). Also, the creative types that typically make the 'innovative' web applications usually shy away from the corporate stigma that Java has. See the above comment. Java developers are typically viewed as corporate shills.
why is java almost dead on the desktop ?
I'll concede that this is due to Java itself. AWT sucked, Swing is marginally better... SWT seems to be the way to go but since Sun didn't invent it they're not going to back it.
what are you smoking Gosling...when you say that java is still evolving ?
Do you own a newer cell phone? Does it have cool features like text messaging and possibly web browsing? If so, your phone more than likely runs J2ME.
"Either you think that these wiretaps have a legitimate purpose and are part of the Presidents protected and inherent rights in the consititution, or you do not."
It comes down to checks and balances. There have been no reports of Clinton using his executive powers to initiate any wiretaps that weren't routed through FISA (when the scope of the search was covered under FISA). In that case power is balanced between the executive and judicial branches. Like I said in the parent post, even after FISA's reach was extended to include physical searches (in legislation passed by congress under Clinton) Bush decided that he didn't need to go through it. The President does have executive powers to improvise in some situations, but in this case there was an established procedure for obtaining a warrant.
We have a 3 branches of government for a reason. Their powers are supposed to balance each other out. If the executive branch suddenly decides that it doesn't need to follow the rules that it agreed upon with the legislative branch (that routes requests through the judicial branch) it tips the balance of power.
Yet another "but Clinton..." argument. Okay, I'll bite.
You realize that Clinton went through the FISA court (which was established for just these situations), right? The only time that President Clinton authorized a search without warrant was for physical searches, which at the time was not covered by FISA. After legislation was passed to allow FISA to issue warrants for physical searches so FISA was established as the gatekeeper for domestic wiretapping. Here's what Clinton said:
"My attitude was that once the Congress had spoken on it and given us the tools that we needed, we used it," he said. "We used the law. We either went there and asked for the approval or, if there was an emergency and we had to do it beforehand, then we filed within three days afterward and gave them a chance to second guess it, because I thought it was a good -- I think in the country you always have to try to balance these things out, so that's what we did."
And yes, within the rules of FISA in the case of an emergency you can initiate a wiretap as long as you bring FISA into the loop within 72 hours. So this entire comparison of "Clinton did it too" is ludicrous. He used the tool that was setup for these exact circumstances. The real question you Bush loyalists should ask yourselves is if there was already an established procedure for acquiring a wiretap (even after the fact), why was it necessary for Bush to bypass FISA and use his 'executive privilege'.
Yeah, you can use that money to go back to school and learn how to spell 'announcement'. While you're at it you can work on pluralization. It's all a moot point though. I doubt the Arkansas 7-11 you work at would ever pay enough to put one of them (or you) through any type of secondary education.
Yeah, and those damn fire engines always seem to be speeding too! Some people are such sheep they even pull over to the side of the road when they come barreling through! Imagine the nerve of those drivers... I can't do that even when I'm late to work! I swear, it's a conspiracy or something. Why are emergency workers special?
Perhaps unaccountable editorials say what needs to be said when no one else is willing to say it. Anonymity and lack of accountability can have their advantages.
We need to make an example out of Diebold to show other companies like them that we won't just lie down and accept their incompetence and deception.
I've written both my senators on this and directed them to www.blackboxvoting.org. I would encourage all the other Americans on/. (and foreigners... what the hell, can't hurt) to do the same. If left unchecked, Diebold represents a serious threat to the democratic process.
Using CS when it was decided that the exercise wouldn't deal with that component.... hmm...
If that's the mentality you're working with, why did you even use blanks in your weapons? Use live ammo, they'd never expect that! After all, not every force in the world would obey the rules... plus you'd totally win!
There is a huge separation between being naive and operating within the parameters of an exercise. Exercise conditions are decided upon to protect the safety of those involved and to focus on certain objectives. For whatever reason your 'Home Guard' went against the parameters that had been decided on and used CS on people they *knew* didn't have equipment.
And that's really why I like reading through sites like Slashdot and Fark. With resources like these you don't just get the 'left' or the 'right' side of the story. True, you get the crazy liberals and the diehard conservatives. You even get the middle of the road people like me that chime in every once in a while... but somewhere in there is the truth. Somewhere, mixed in with the flames and the "what about the children" there is a happy medium that we can draw from.
I look through and say "Wow, this crazy redneck has a point" and "Yes, our country does spend too much on that". I look at the different views expressed on these sites and use them to better shape my outlook on things. Lots of people ask friends for advice before making a decision. They like to get another persons perspective before making a decision. This is no different, we just have a larger pool of opinions to gather perspective from.
As far as accountability goes... maybe that's a good thing. For instance if someone here on Slashdot has something that may be viewed as flamebait they'll post anonymously to avoid the karma backlash. 'Blogs' (as I said before, not fond of the name) provide everyone in the world an Anonymous Coward Get Out Of Jail Free card by allowing them to express their views without fear of repercussion. While this may annoy us when someone that we feel is wrong posts their opinion, it may just be the medium to ask questions that normally wouldn't be asked and express opinions that would've otherwise stayed in the dark.
Slashdot Mirror
And once more, I completely agree with you. Financial applications are boring as hell. A lot of the projects that I work on are considered "mission critical" in their specific field, but bore me to tears.
I don't know about 3 companies running all of Eastern Europe's finances, but I can tell you in America we have a lot of companies that do very different things. Mortgages, stock market trading, banking, credit cards... they all have very specific business rules and do very different things depending on how the company is structured. While some systems are similar there are definitely not 2000 systems all doing the same thing.
What it comes down to is there are companies that need solutions for their specific business practices and they're willing to pay well for them. While I try to pick projects that are challenging or have a unique twist to them, at the end of the day I have bills to pay.
I would tend to agree with Mr. Duleba. I don't think this reflects on the intelligence of American programmers, it reflects on our work schedules. I'm 22 just like Mr. Duleba, and I would love to enter contests like this just for the fun of it... I just don't have the time.
I'm gainfully employed building financial systems and whatever other contracts I'm working on. As Mr. Duleba was saying, I think it reflects more the economic state of some of the Eastern European countries. There is a lot of talent, but not a lot of opportunity. A little publicity from a contest like this can make you more viable to employers and give you an edge on the competition.
I'll second this. I graduated high school in 2001 with two years worth of C++ (counted as a math credit). In my spare time I worked with Perl, PHP and now Java. Fast forward five years and I'm now a successful contractor doing mostly Java development.
Back then I had an excellent teacher with experience going back to the punch card days. He was good at what he did, and he had a genuine sense of "giving something back". After many years in the commercial sector he wanted to help educate the next generation of programmers so he took the teaching job.
Great teachers are out there. Unfortunately, they seem to be few and far between... but that begs the question: after we're all done conquering the commercial sector and ready to retire will we feel any obligation to devote some of our time to educating others?
The preview is there for a reason...
why aren't any of the cool and useful websites being created with java on the back-end ?
Honestly, I believe the problem here is more with Java developers than Java itself. Java developers are constantly trying to overwrite their code (as in writing more than necessary, not saving over an existing file:). Instead of using the KISS mentality, everything has to have an XML configuration file and object factory. Java devs are typically very black and white, code to the requirements, check off the features on their checklists, etc.
On the other hand, Google has said they use Java for a number of applications. It's a great tool in the right hands.
why has java been relegated to the enterprise space only ?
A number of reasons... PHBs feel more comfortable with a "proven" solution with "corporate backing" versus all that pony tail and birkenstock hippie open source stuff (kidding!). Also, the creative types that typically make the 'innovative' web applications usually shy away from the corporate stigma that Java has. See the above comment. Java developers are typically viewed as corporate shills.
why is java almost dead on the desktop ?
I'll concede that this is due to Java itself. AWT sucked, Swing is marginally better... SWT seems to be the way to go but since Sun didn't invent it they're not going to back it.
what are you smoking Gosling...when you say that java is still evolving ?
Do you own a newer cell phone? Does it have cool features like text messaging and possibly web browsing? If so, your phone more than likely runs J2ME.
why aren't any of the cool and useful websites being created with java on the back-end ? Honestly, I believe the problem here is more with Java developers than Java itself. Java developers are constantly trying to overwrite their code (as in writing more than necessary, not saving over an existing file:). Instead of using the KISS mentality, everything has to have an XML configuration file and object factory. Java devs are typically very black and white, code to the requirements, check off the features on their checklists, etc. On the other hand, Google has said they use Java for a number of applications. It's a great tool in the right hands. why has java been relegated to the enterprise space only ? A number of reasons... PHBs feel more comfortable with a "proven" solution with "corporate backing" versus all that pony tail and birkenstock hippie open source stuff (kidding!). Also, the creative types that typically make the 'innovative' web applications usually shy away from the corporate stigma that Java has. See the above comment. Java developers are typically viewed as corporate shills. why is java almost dead on the desktop ? I'll concede that this is due to Java itself. AWT sucked, Swing is marginally better... SWT seems to be the way to go but since Sun didn't invent it they're not going to back it. what are you smoking Gosling...when you say that java is still evolving ? Do you own a newer cell phone? Does it have cool features like text messaging and possibly web browsing? If so, your phone more than likely runs J2ME.
"Either you think that these wiretaps have a legitimate purpose and are part of the Presidents protected and inherent rights in the consititution, or you do not."
It comes down to checks and balances. There have been no reports of Clinton using his executive powers to initiate any wiretaps that weren't routed through FISA (when the scope of the search was covered under FISA). In that case power is balanced between the executive and judicial branches. Like I said in the parent post, even after FISA's reach was extended to include physical searches (in legislation passed by congress under Clinton) Bush decided that he didn't need to go through it. The President does have executive powers to improvise in some situations, but in this case there was an established procedure for obtaining a warrant.
We have a 3 branches of government for a reason. Their powers are supposed to balance each other out. If the executive branch suddenly decides that it doesn't need to follow the rules that it agreed upon with the legislative branch (that routes requests through the judicial branch) it tips the balance of power.
Yet another "but Clinton..." argument. Okay, I'll bite. You realize that Clinton went through the FISA court (which was established for just these situations), right? The only time that President Clinton authorized a search without warrant was for physical searches, which at the time was not covered by FISA. After legislation was passed to allow FISA to issue warrants for physical searches so FISA was established as the gatekeeper for domestic wiretapping. Here's what Clinton said:
"My attitude was that once the Congress had spoken on it and given us the tools that we needed, we used it," he said. "We used the law. We either went there and asked for the approval or, if there was an emergency and we had to do it beforehand, then we filed within three days afterward and gave them a chance to second guess it, because I thought it was a good -- I think in the country you always have to try to balance these things out, so that's what we did."
And yes, within the rules of FISA in the case of an emergency you can initiate a wiretap as long as you bring FISA into the loop within 72 hours. So this entire comparison of "Clinton did it too" is ludicrous. He used the tool that was setup for these exact circumstances. The real question you Bush loyalists should ask yourselves is if there was already an established procedure for acquiring a wiretap (even after the fact), why was it necessary for Bush to bypass FISA and use his 'executive privilege'.
Yeah, you can use that money to go back to school and learn how to spell 'announcement'. While you're at it you can work on pluralization. It's all a moot point though. I doubt the Arkansas 7-11 you work at would ever pay enough to put one of them (or you) through any type of secondary education.
Yeah, and those damn fire engines always seem to be speeding too! Some people are such sheep they even pull over to the side of the road when they come barreling through! Imagine the nerve of those drivers... I can't do that even when I'm late to work! I swear, it's a conspiracy or something. Why are emergency workers special?
Perhaps unaccountable editorials say what needs to be said when no one else is willing to say it. Anonymity and lack of accountability can have their advantages.
We need to make an example out of Diebold to show other companies like them that we won't just lie down and accept their incompetence and deception. I've written both my senators on this and directed them to www.blackboxvoting.org. I would encourage all the other Americans on /. (and foreigners... what the hell, can't hurt) to do the same. If left unchecked, Diebold represents a serious threat to the democratic process.
Using CS when it was decided that the exercise wouldn't deal with that component.... hmm... If that's the mentality you're working with, why did you even use blanks in your weapons? Use live ammo, they'd never expect that! After all, not every force in the world would obey the rules... plus you'd totally win! There is a huge separation between being naive and operating within the parameters of an exercise. Exercise conditions are decided upon to protect the safety of those involved and to focus on certain objectives. For whatever reason your 'Home Guard' went against the parameters that had been decided on and used CS on people they *knew* didn't have equipment.
And that's really why I like reading through sites like Slashdot and Fark. With resources like these you don't just get the 'left' or the 'right' side of the story. True, you get the crazy liberals and the diehard conservatives. You even get the middle of the road people like me that chime in every once in a while... but somewhere in there is the truth. Somewhere, mixed in with the flames and the "what about the children" there is a happy medium that we can draw from.
I look through and say "Wow, this crazy redneck has a point" and "Yes, our country does spend too much on that". I look at the different views expressed on these sites and use them to better shape my outlook on things. Lots of people ask friends for advice before making a decision. They like to get another persons perspective before making a decision. This is no different, we just have a larger pool of opinions to gather perspective from.
As far as accountability goes... maybe that's a good thing. For instance if someone here on Slashdot has something that may be viewed as flamebait they'll post anonymously to avoid the karma backlash. 'Blogs' (as I said before, not fond of the name) provide everyone in the world an Anonymous Coward Get Out Of Jail Free card by allowing them to express their views without fear of repercussion. While this may annoy us when someone that we feel is wrong posts their opinion, it may just be the medium to ask questions that normally wouldn't be asked and express opinions that would've otherwise stayed in the dark.
Offtopic, but I just have to compliment your sig. Glad to see more Dead Like Me fans around.