RE: [NF] All the Write Stuff

2007-01-19 Thread Hal Kaplan
=> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chet Gardiner
=> 
=> But...they got to the moon (and back) using the transistor 
=> version of the tube computer I used in my first job...
=> 

Thank goodness for those aliens coming here almost 60 years ago to show us the 
way.  Nature abhors a vacuum (tube). 

B+
HALinNY


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Re: [NF] All the Write Stuff

2007-01-18 Thread Chet Gardiner
They also have unlimited time and money to do their work.

Software development will probably diverge into two paths -- one 
"boring" and predictable for critical applications and the other 
interesting and artsy.  In some ways, it already has.  In my life I've 
been lucky enough to spend about 30 of my 42 programming years on 
one-person projects with relatively complete autonomy and could indulge 
my artistic tendencies because I'm also VERY GOOD at designing 
interfaces that real people can use with minimal frustration.  So, I 
guess I've mainly been on the artsy track.  Those few harrowing years 
when I was a tiny cog in a big (slow, inefficient, hypocritical 
corporate) environment -- didn't have fun...didn't get much done...

But...they got to the moon (and back) using the transistor version of 
the tube computer I used in my first job...

Hal Kaplan wrote:

>=> 
>=> It's a decade old, but a very well-written piece:
>=> 
>=> http://www.fastcompany.com/online/06/writestuff.html
>=> 
>=> Ted Roche
>=>
>
>It reminds me of the way we did things 40 years ago.  Nothing online ... 
>everything was batch.  During a good week, you could get 4 turnarounds.  You 
>wrote code and bench-checked it at least twice.  Then you keypunched the code 
>and you spent a lot of time looking at all the little holes in the cards to 
>make sure that you punched it right and did not get a used card (with someone 
>else's punches) in your deck.  Then you submitted it and rested a bit.  Then 
>repeat the process.  Write, bench-check, review the last run.  Slow.  Methodic.
>
>And now that you have a clean compilation, a decent object module, and an 
>executable (no, Microsoft did not invent all those things; they can't even 
>steal them without screw-ups), you tested your program.  You used a carefully 
>assembled collection of data that blew the program in the past (regression 
>testing) and new data that exercised whatever you were coding new.  And when 
>the reporting was done, half-a-dozen of your co-workers got to rip it apart 
>(or try to) just for the fun of it.
>
>And when it went into production, you were justifiably proud and everyone in 
>the organization knew how much effort went into making it good and appreciated 
>your effort.  You were the star of the day (or week) because you did 
>everything by the book.
>
>And then somebody said ... OLTP ... instant gratification! ... and that was 
>the beginning of the age of "progress."
>
>B+
>HALinNY
>
>
[excessive quoting removed by server]

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RE: [NF] All the Write Stuff

2007-01-18 Thread Hal Kaplan
=> 
=> It's a decade old, but a very well-written piece:
=> 
=> http://www.fastcompany.com/online/06/writestuff.html
=> 
=> Ted Roche
=>

It reminds me of the way we did things 40 years ago.  Nothing online ... 
everything was batch.  During a good week, you could get 4 turnarounds.  You 
wrote code and bench-checked it at least twice.  Then you keypunched the code 
and you spent a lot of time looking at all the little holes in the cards to 
make sure that you punched it right and did not get a used card (with someone 
else's punches) in your deck.  Then you submitted it and rested a bit.  Then 
repeat the process.  Write, bench-check, review the last run.  Slow.  Methodic.

And now that you have a clean compilation, a decent object module, and an 
executable (no, Microsoft did not invent all those things; they can't even 
steal them without screw-ups), you tested your program.  You used a carefully 
assembled collection of data that blew the program in the past (regression 
testing) and new data that exercised whatever you were coding new.  And when 
the reporting was done, half-a-dozen of your co-workers got to rip it apart (or 
try to) just for the fun of it.

And when it went into production, you were justifiably proud and everyone in 
the organization knew how much effort went into making it good and appreciated 
your effort.  You were the star of the day (or week) because you did everything 
by the book.

And then somebody said ... OLTP ... instant gratification! ... and that was the 
beginning of the age of "progress."

B+
HALinNY


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[NF] All the Write Stuff

2007-01-18 Thread Ted Roche
It's a decade old, but a very well-written piece:

http://www.fastcompany.com/online/06/writestuff.html

-- 
Ted Roche
Ted Roche & Associates, LLC
http://www.tedroche.com


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