Re: not enough real programmers?

[kenl@compassnet.com.au (Ken Lee)]

On Wed, 11 Aug 1999 14:32:26 GMT, jkenton@world.std.com (Jeff Kenton)
wrote:

>prs@gol.com (Peter Stephenson) writes:
>
>>The question remains: how do you tell if they are decent programmers?
>
>Things I ask:
>
>* Describe a project you think you did well.  What were the important
>  decisions you had to make?
>
>* Tell me how you attack a new project you are given.
>
>* Compare C and C++.
>
>* What makes a good programmer?
>
>All of these are open ended questions.  No multiple choice.  If s/he
>can communicate the important aspects of what was done, chances are
>you have a decent candidate.  You can learn a lot by listening.  Most
>interviewers talk way too much.
Unfortunately what I see in the industry is the emergence of Software
Hackers rather than Software Designers (aka Software Engineers). With
the advent of RAD tools it is all too easy to "knock-up" an
application very quickly. Sure, there is a lot of talk about OOA/OOD
but very little has rippled down to the embedded application. This is
not to say that there are not Software Engineers out there using this
methology.

What makes a good programmer? Experience alone does not ensure a good
programmer.  What else is needed is a rigorous and consistent approach
to software development to ensure a quality deliverable.

Ken