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Therefore, I'm looking at PHP, and may stray into XHTML, XML, and perhaps later some Java. I've already had a start on SQL, with more to come.
Yeah, I know. If I was really serious about getting a real hobby, I'd be picking up C++ ... but it's been a few years since I did any serious coding. I probably should get the hang of Object Oriented Programming at some point.Ah hell, to quote Joel Spolsky:
Watching non-programmers trying to run software companies is like watching someone who doesn't know how to surf trying to surf."It's ok! I have great advisors standing on the shore telling me what to do!" they say, and then fall off the board, again and again. The standard cry of the MBA who believes that management is a generic function. Is Ballmer going to be another John Sculley, who nearly drove Apple into extinction because the board of directors thought that selling Pepsi was good preparation for running a computer company? The cult of the MBA likes to believe that you can run organizations that do things that you don't understand.
amused
(no subject)
-Play Texas Holdem with friends (in real life, not online)
-Become an expert on something you've always been interested in, something way out of the box for you.
-Volunteer at a local elementary or high school--it's unbelievably rewarding! I see that you're an aspie. You could mentor other aspies and help them get through the incredibly difficult awkward high school years.
-Pretend you're a spy, and try to figure out what people are up to.
-Learn scuba diving
-Take up a sport--team or individual--or both
Well, that's a start! I expect a progress report in about a month or so.
Misdirection!
Re: Misdirection!
Re: Misdirection!
Successful project managers
Something to think about:
Re: Successful project managers
Training (and experience) is crucial - being promoted doesn't magically lead to competence. I've worked under people I've had to claw off my back with entrenching tools, and for those who forgot I existed even before I left their office. I much prefer working with someone who understands my job well enough to ensure all the crap is taken care of - and can listen cogently when I need to dump/whine/complain/express, and then send me back to work feeling better.
It also helps for senior managers to set active examples of good management practices - and provide support and resources. Having a good development environment is crucial - and that goes beyond coffee machines and 20 inch monitors.
I agree wholeheartedly with Joel Spolsky's notion that management's role is to abstract away all the stuff that goes into supporting coders - and indeed any other part of the organisation.
Project managers that do not understand their team's problems can be very scary to work under. One of the benefits of paired programming seems to be that there is no room for interventionalist meddling. But there can be scope for collegiate culture if the environment is constructed and maintained appropriately.
It seems to me that IS training can be a good foundation for decent project management - just enough of everything to get a handle on who's doing what without being being overloaded with specifics in any one area.
One of my bosses called me a specialist generalist - I always seemed to be able to relate to everyone's job, but was never tempted to take on any one role. Indeed, if there is a place that I'm happiest, it's pulling the big picture together, or helping others see where they fit into the big plan. Hence I usually, eventually, ended up as either a consultant or a manager.
I'm an systems analyst-designer and/or systems integrator by preference. I've had some project management work - but no one bothered to train me for it. I intend to address that, amongst other inadequacies, over the next few months and years.
The PhD is part of that plan.
PHP
NB. Reflection scares me. :)
Re: PHP
This hacker/generalist has some things to focus on forthwith.