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From: ladkin@kestrel.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Titles
Message-ID: <4590@kestrel.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 5-Feb-86 20:23:42 EST
Article-I.D.: kestrel.4590
Posted: Wed Feb  5 20:23:42 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Feb-86 21:42:21 EST
References: <4514@kestrel.ARPA> <487@hoptoad.uucp>
Organization: Kestrel Institute, Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 30
Keywords: Computer Science

(creighton)
> [...] I wasn't suggesting that a CS degree isn't worth
> much to programmers -- I was asserting that even though you have a CS
> degree you may not be worth much as a programmer.
>[...]  The problem is with the professionalism of the
> code [...]
>[commenting on some bsd4.1 utilities] you will see that they are not
> professionally written [with examples of what this means]
> [In industry] it really doesn't matter how
> well you understand the concepts in computer science; if you can't
> produce a maintainable product that is ready to ship by the deadline
> then you are in trouble  - unless [..the exception]

Thankyou for moderating your comments. I agree with 
your point of view on code. At universities, code is usually 
written to satisfy a degree requirement, or to prove a point
(so-called *rapid-prototyping*). BSD4.1 was explicitly caveat 
receptor, as Unix used to be. We shouldn't expect
industrial-strength code in academic prototypes.
(Again, there are notable exceptions to this).
I notice you're still saying it doesn't matter how well people
understand the concepts. I beg to differ.
In my sphere of work, creative understanding really counts,
whether in concepts or in programming.  For example, we write 
specifications in set theory, and compile them (we hope!).
Of course, deadlines must still be met.
I still believe that people make better programmers if they can
do all the problems in Knuth.

Peter