Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ncrlnk!ncrcae!hubcap!gatech!cwjcc!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!bellcore!jcricket!sjs
From: sjs@jcricket.ctt.bellcore.com (Stan Switzer)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc
Subject: Re: Languages in the the REAL world -- Listing
Message-ID: <11977@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Date: 22 Nov 88 21:12:44 GMT
References: <325@lafcol.UUCP> <4950002@hpiacla.HP.COM>
Sender: news@bellcore.bellcore.com
Reply-To: sjs@ctt.bellcore.com (Stan Switzer)
Organization: Bellcore
Lines: 18

In article <4950002@hpiacla.HP.COM> scottg@hpiacla.HP.COM (Scott Gulland) writes:
> With languages which have substantially different underlying paradyms such
> as PROLOG, I would expect a competent engineer to take torwards the longer
> side of the estimate to learn the language (eg 6 weeks).  Remember the 
> professional programmer has 40hrs/week to concentrate on comming up to 
> speed on a new lanuguage.

Only hermits get to devote full time to a single task.  Unfortunately,
in the real world there are other demands on one's time.  You have to
make an extra effort to invest in yourself.

However, I generally agree with the sentiment that a competent
engineer should be expected to learn (and become proficient in) new
tools when necessary.  One with a _professional_ attitude will learn
new tools simply in order to stay current in the field, not just when
needed.

Stan Switzer  sjs@ctt.bellcore.com