Improving Software

This is the second article in a two-part series. If you haven’t already, please read Part One first.

 

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 Protecting Our Interests

Although we may be loathe to admit it, we want and need programming to be sufficiently complex to keep the unwashed masses out of our clubhouse. The trouble is, we need a barrier to entry to support our value as programmers. Unlike lawyers and doctors who have expensive degrees and trade associations to protect their earning potential and aura of authority, it is not uncommon for a programmer to make a good living without the benefit of academic credentials or a formal endorsement of an organization. It is the magic of our craft that makes us feel special and separates us from the muggles and wanna-be’s like your boss’s nephew who is really good with computers.

 

Fundamentally, I think this is a quite valid concern and admit that I sometimes succumb to these same territorial instincts. Especially when provoked by ignorant statements that undermine the investment programmers continually make in a Red Queen’s Race to stay on top of their game.

 

 

 

 

The Salman Rushdie of Programming?

Be Honest. How many of you have the urge to burn  this guy as a heretic?

There’s no reason why office workers, homemakers, professional engineers and pizza delivery persons shouldn’t be able to take advantage of their own hand crafted custom computer programs to work faster and smarter. It shouldn’t take a ‘professional programmer’ (whatever that is) to do the job. You know what needs to be done better than anyone else. You can do it yourself! (And I say this as someone who has spent many years writing programs for other people … ‘professionally’.)
VB Programming for the non-programmer!

Before everyone starts jumping on the VB dogpile in the comments, I should clarify that the referenced article is actually about VBA, and not VB proper. I’m sure, however, that many of my readers will question whether that distinction is meaningful inspiring yet another battle in the platform wars. This brings me back to my point.

 Why do many programmers despise tools like Access and VB, and even those that use VB look down on those who do too much drag-drop programming. The concept of a non-technical person using tools like this to build a useful software drives some of us nucking futs. Why? Shouldn’t we welcome usability to simplify the task of software construction?

Perhaps because it opens that clubhouse door a bit too wide for comfort.

 

Sir, you can’t let him in here. He’ll see everything. He’ll see the big board!

– General “Buck” Turgenson

 

 

 

 

Gold Plating The Secret Handshake

It is my contention that this effect has played a role in driving recent trends in programming technology. After years of considerable progress towards simplifying the physical act of programming (ASP.NET), recent developments in technology built for programmers has decidedly shifted towards better implementation of computer science-y stuff like functional programming, MVC and lambda expressions into the more pedestrian programming languages.

Also, the attention of developers is increasingly turning to the haute couture*technology of the day. Ruby? That is so two years ago, don’t you know we are using Scala now? (Haskell)

* The use of haute couture in this blog is not sanctioned by the French Government. For my French or Bostononian readers, please substitute the phrase “Wicked Awesome.”

This seems to drive programmers, who like woodworkers often build their own tools/jigs, to devote our time to constantly moving goalposts rather than reducing the required expertise to build functional software.

 

The Consequence and My Conclusions

I’m not saying that new programming languages don’t add value, just that this type of progress is more about fine tuning than making programmers generally more productive. My inner pragmatist makes me question the need to sharpen our tools to such a degree when the majority of the programming work seems to be centered on developing CRUD apps.  Additionally, given the very real threat of “low-cost” outsourcing options for programmers, it also makes me wonder if perhaps our priorities are not aligned with our best interests.

 

Don’t Go Away Angry

I fully realize that I have engaged in some very controversial conjecture in this series, and want to emphasize that the intent of this article is is not to drive a particular agenda. Rather, I’m merely trying to encourage introspection into some aspects of our trade that may have otherwise gone under-examined. I am not certain that I even agree with all of the opinions I have offered here, but found musing on them interesting and hope you will too.

Filed under: The Software Development Process | Tagged: programming, technology |