Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cornell!uw-beaver!mit-eddie!bloom-beacon!apple!well!ewhac
From: ewhac@well.UUCP (Leo 'Bols Ewhac' Schwab)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: On Software Development
Summary: No, I'm not talking to myself...
Message-ID: <10584@well.UUCP>
Date: 3 Feb 89 09:23:10 GMT
References: <7200075@m.cs.uiuc.edu> <2030154@hpcilzb.HP.COM> <10557@well.UUCP>
Reply-To: ewhac@well.UUCP (Leo 'Bols Ewhac' Schwab)
Organization: Network 23 (XXIII)
Lines: 35
Quote: "Blake is an idealist; he cannot allow himself to think."  -- Avon

In article <10557@well.UUCP> I write:
>	Basically it has to do with the programmer lying to his bosses.

	After some brief correspondence with Jim Mackraz, I thought it might
be appropriate to clarify this statement.

	I never meant to imply that this is how I intentionally go about my
duties, nor did I wish to imply that this is the sort of employer/employee
relationship that should be expected.  It was a poor choice of words on my
part.  I meant only to say that, despite everyone's best efforts to provide
accurate forecasts, projects can become late.

	It is my perception that a professional programmer is fully aware of
his/her level of expertise, and burnout level.  Therefore, projects under
the stewardship of professionals should tend to be less late than other
projects.

	This is why, when some people refer to me as a wizard, I try to play
it down.  Wizards know precisely what their capabilities and limitations
are.  I've only been programming "professionally" (read: for money) for a
relatively short period of time.  I'm not yet fully aware of what my
capabilities and limitations are.  Sure, I've pulled off a few parlor
tricks, but that turns out to be only a small part of what's needed when
Actual Products are being developed.

	So far, I think the biggest requirement is perseverence (sp?).  I'm
trying to find that quality within myself.  So I'm not a Wizard.

	But I'm working on it.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
Leo L. Schwab -- The Guy in The Cape	INET: well!ewhac@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU
 \_ -_		Recumbent Bikes:	UUCP: pacbell > !{well,unicom}!ewhac
O----^o	      The Only Way To Fly.	      hplabs / (pronounced "AE-wack")
"Work FOR?  I don't work FOR anybody!  I'm just having fun."  -- The Doctor