Re: Low-level vs. High-level programming (was My First Computer)

[Lee Hart <leeahart@earthlink.net>]

Ben Yates ranted:
>> they actually laid-off those of us who have been "programming"
>> for 20 years, those of us who know what an algorithm is, who can
>> actually design, program, and implement. Instead, they have hired
>> those from the "programmer mills" who have just been taught how
>> to use Wizards to create programs, who know how to cut-n-paste
>> an object on the screen, but who don't know shit about writing
>> the program behind the scenes to actually perform anything more
>> complicated than a simple report (which is all handled for them
>> too.) Funny thing is, these people are being replaced too --
>> their jobs have been exported to South America or India...

Dosius wrote:
> *sigh* And since I'm middle-of-the road, I'm unemployable...

When he was a young officer moving up through the ranks of the Roman
army, Julius Caesar wrote, "When I begin a new command, I reorganize. It
makes it look like I am knowledgeable and decisive. I find it is more
important to look competent than to be competent."

This is the secret of the pointy-haired boss. He doesn't have to
understand anything about the technology he is managing -- in fact, it
is *better* if he doesn't understand it. It is easy to make decisions
and act competent when you aren't burdened by having all the facts.

However, management by little Caesars and armies of pointy-haired bosses
only works when your competitors are ALSO over-run with little Caesars
and pointy-haired bosses. All it takes is a few truly competent,
creative, and knowledgeable individuals to put them out of business.

The whole microcomputer revolution was started by people who did NOT
work in the computer establishment. They started with a blank sheet, and
re-invented the computer from scratch. And changed the world!

So, maybe it's time to do it again. Start designing the NEXT computer
revolution!
--
Lee A. Hart                Ring the bells that still can ring
814 8th Ave. N.            Forget your perfect offering
Sartell, MN 56377 USA      There is a crack in everything
leeahart_at_earthlink.net  That's how the light gets in - Leonard Cohen