Where do good C++ teams exist ?

[JimB]

Trying to find even a single C++ developer is difficult as programming is
not 100% science or 100% like architecting a building. There are set
standards, city ordinances for a building and that area of knowledge is well
known for thousands of years. And likewise, there are very few buildings
that fall down.

However, most programming and IT project fail, at least 70% fail according
to Forrester research and others. I say at least 90% fail.
Programming is very new and it's very creative. Hence, it's like trying to
find an great artist or musician that's also a good engineer.

Most of the those that hang out in user groups aren't all that great. Those
that write books aren't all that great either as they spend all their time
writing books as oppose to code in the real world. Sort of like an author
that writes book on how to be a great actor, of which, means zip in the real
world. Just because you goto a schools of acting doesn't mean you are going
to make it big.

Those that are any good are actually doing the work to get the job done and
just don't have the time to "hang out" anywhere. Do you see anyone else in
other professions having all the time to just hang out doing the same exact
thing at work? I don't. But, I do see lots of talented people doing
something completely different than their day job just to get away or do
something different.

The more effective way, IMO, to find a good programmer to actually see the
work they have personally written. Not some resume, or some meaningless
certification as test and that stuff are hardly useful in a creative world.

Do you have any recommendations of good C++ code that illustrate your
point?

Jim

 

[Diwa]

Smnoff, this mail of yours has been informative and thoughtful.
However, some comments of mine inline.

Trying to find even a single C++ developer is difficult as programming is
not 100% science or 100% like architecting a building. There are set
standards, city ordinances for a building and that area of knowledge is well
known for thousands of years. And likewise, there are very few buildings
that fall down.

I would rather "not" search for C++ programmers who know the
best way to tackle the given problem because as you said, it
is diffcult since it is not science completely. What I "was" trying
to search was for those programmers who know the various
ways of "not solving" a given problem. This comes from experience
of solving new problems constantly than being in mostly maintenance
mode of working. As Edison (or was it newton) said, "Now I know a
hundred ways of how a given thing will not work"

Most of the those that hang out in user groups aren't all that great. Those

oh, no no... aren't we all in this comp.lang.c++ user group great ??
Just kidding

Those that are any good are actually doing the work to get the job done and
just don't have the time to "hang out" anywhere.

There you have it !! That I feel is a good observation.
This might be the answer that I was searching for.

The more effective way, IMO, to find a good programmer to actually see the
work they have personally written. Not some resume, or some meaningless
certification as test and that stuff are hardly useful in a creative world.

Not sure about this one. An architect would never write any code,
would he/she ?

 

[Diwa]

Hi Diwa!


In most places I have worked, there was always a mix between
maintenance and new software creation. ... and, personally, I
am and always have been involved mostly with new creation
(mostly being called upon for maintenance only for the tricky bits).
However, once a system is build, some people move on to the
next one while others stay behind and do maintenance. Of
course, for software which doesn't need much oiling maintenance
actually means extending or changing the system. Except that it
is work within some existing code base, it is not that much
different to initial system creation anyway. Sure, there are
occasional bug fixes but these tend to be relatively rare
compared to adapting systems to new requirements.

Hmmn..now that you put it that way I realised that enhancing
apps is also kind of mini green fields projects

 

[Diwa]

Consultants maybe?

Or maybe work only for startups ??

 

[JoeC]

Or maybe work only for startups ??

Strive to be a competent programmer, focus on fundamentals. Learn as
much good technique as possible. I write some fairly large programs as
a hobby and I find that is is not so much as getting some tyntax right
but making the whole system work. Write good code that does what iit
is supposed to and use th at code for every time you need that thing
done. You won't know what you will need until you get experience
programming and from that experience you can design better and more
useful objects. Learn the language and write code solve problems. The
challenge is orginaizing and keeping track of the naming conventions
and how the whole program is to work.