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Craftsmen are like Babelfish
by: micah | October 3rd, 2006 |
Show me a software craftsmen and I’ll show you someone who can program in any language if they had to.
From time to time I meet developers who define themselves by the one and only programming language they know…. “I’m a Java developer”, “I’m a .NET developer”. It’s deplorable. I suspect such people don’t care much for their career.
Better are developers who can whip up code in multiple languages. Web developers, for example, often have to code in javascript in addition to the primary language whether it be Ruby, Java, or .NET. That’s respectable. Yet, many of these developers are intimidated by the notion of programming in some other language like C or C++. It’s a shame. There’s lot’s to learn from unfamiliar languages.
A Craftsman will not shy away from using the right language for the job. They understand that the act of programming is fundamentally the same despite the language being used. A craftsman is not intimidated by unfamiliar languages. When they’re confronted with a new language, they’ll learn it. After all, new programming languages are easy to learn.
October 18th, 2008 at 11:32 PM I agree with all you said. I have programmed in Java, C++, C#, perl, and I used php to make web pages . A good programmed does not care about what programming language is supposed to use, but I think if you girdl many of them, you would know just a part of them as well. For example, java and C# are huge in excess and in order to be and expert in one of them you have to delve into one. All of that depends on what you want to do. Current enterprise world requires both kind of programmers. Ones who are prepared to change their environments and give fast and good solutions. And others who domains and solve the most difficult problems on a development enviroment and, of course, improve and propose other tools and solutions. I don't know if Microsoft is interested to hire programmer with ruby or java knowledge, maybe it is. Maybe c++ programmers (our second mother). Or Sun would hire cobalto programmers. Other companies require most dynamic programmers. As a said it depends on what you want to do and want you want to go. They are just comments. Please, if you disagree let mi know. I'm dwilling to know your thoughts and open my mind with you high experience.
October 18th, 2008 at 11:32 PM I have to disagree with part of this. While I agree completely that you need a big toolbox, you also need expertise. You've read Software Craftsmanship", and hopefully "The Pragmatic Programmer". They very clearly say "pick your tools, become an expert". It takes a long time to gain expertise in a new programming language... especially something as bloated and grossly complex as Java or C# or C++. Also, while it culd be argued that learnign moving between C++, C#, Java, and the like is pretty straightforward (with only syntax and apis to learn ;) ), moving to a language with a different paradigm is not so easy. Consider moving form C to Smalltalk or LISP. Or.. not such a big leap.. from Java to Ruby. Similar syntax, both OO... but very, very different beyond that.