Comments for Dr. K's Software Ruminations http://www.charlesknutson.net “It is impossible for a software organization to be saved in ignorance.” Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:50:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Rudy: An iTunes love story by Charles Knutson http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/06/09/rudy-an-itunes-love-story/#comment-10855 Charles Knutson Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:50:31 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/06/09/rudy-an-itunes-love-story/#comment-10855 Just re-read this article after a long break since writing it. Something is nagging at me, and I don't know how to resolve it. Near the end I state the following: "...consuming only 1.29 GB of hard disk space in the process." Okay, so... I meant this to be ironic. 1.29 GB of disk space is a significant chunk. Even on a 1 TB disk, it's, um... hang on... a fraction of a percent. Yeah, that's not so much. But on a 300 GB MacBook Pro hard disk such as the one I wrote this post on, it's like... um... a fraction of a percent. But a much, much larger fraction, like... 3ish times bigger. Ish. Still, if you pull down 300 movies from iTunes you're pretty much cooked a few movies ago. I have a writing philosophy that one should trust the reader and not explain every cleverness or attempt at humor. But in this case, I think I missed. The average reader probably did something like this, "Only 1.29 GB?! Is this guy an idiot?!" Distinct possibility. But in any case I feel much better now. :) Just re-read this article after a long break since writing it. Something is nagging at me, and I don’t know how to resolve it.

Near the end I state the following: “…consuming only 1.29 GB of hard disk space in the process.” Okay, so… I meant this to be ironic. 1.29 GB of disk space is a significant chunk. Even on a 1 TB disk, it’s, um… hang on… a fraction of a percent. Yeah, that’s not so much. But on a 300 GB MacBook Pro hard disk such as the one I wrote this post on, it’s like… um… a fraction of a percent. But a much, much larger fraction, like… 3ish times bigger. Ish. Still, if you pull down 300 movies from iTunes you’re pretty much cooked a few movies ago.

I have a writing philosophy that one should trust the reader and not explain every cleverness or attempt at humor. But in this case, I think I missed. The average reader probably did something like this, “Only 1.29 GB?! Is this guy an idiot?!” Distinct possibility. But in any case I feel much better now. :)

]]> Comment on Puzzle-solving: Not the driving function of software construction by Wes Holley http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-10649 Wes Holley Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:09:59 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-10649 I don't claim to have all that much experience in the workplace but I just completed an internship at Microsoft and I was pretty surprised at their hiring priorities. I found that, much to my surprise, they were most interested in hiring people who could clearly communicate, even if they weren't the fastest at solving the puzzles or didn't come up with the most graceful solution. I found that I worked with very intelligent, sharp people who were also excellent communicators, which is something the company relied on since communication is vital to producing a cohesive product when you have dozens of people working on something. I don’t claim to have all that much experience in the workplace but I just completed an internship at Microsoft and I was pretty surprised at their hiring priorities. I found that, much to my surprise, they were most interested in hiring people who could clearly communicate, even if they weren’t the fastest at solving the puzzles or didn’t come up with the most graceful solution. I found that I worked with very intelligent, sharp people who were also excellent communicators, which is something the company relied on since communication is vital to producing a cohesive product when you have dozens of people working on something.

]]> Comment on Puzzle-solving: Not the driving function of software construction by James Williams http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-5620 James Williams Sun, 13 Feb 2011 02:01:08 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-5620 Ask for a code sample. Sure you only have 20 minutes in an interview, but you can spend all weekend perusing code written by your favored candidates. An interview is the only time you get to see personality unedited. Use that to help decide which code samples to actually peruse. Ask for a code sample. Sure you only have 20 minutes in an interview, but you can spend all weekend perusing code written by your favored candidates. An interview is the only time you get to see personality unedited. Use that to help decide which code samples to actually peruse.

]]> Comment on Programming, gender, and masculine metaphors by banane » Blog Archive » Girly Metaphors For Computers http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/09/26/programming-gender-and-abrasive-masculine-metaphors/#comment-5612 banane » Blog Archive » Girly Metaphors For Computers Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:25:46 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/09/26/programming-gender-and-abrasive-masculine-metaphors/#comment-5612 [...] reading: Programming Gender and Abrasive Masculien Metaphors His reference to a great study: Gender HCl and Programming Leaders of the Information Age: Ada [...] [...] reading: Programming Gender and Abrasive Masculien Metaphors His reference to a great study: Gender HCl and Programming Leaders of the Information Age: Ada [...]

]]> Comment on Puzzle-solving: Not the driving function of software construction by Christian Bird http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-5203 Christian Bird Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:32:40 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-5203 So... Let's say you have at least 10 people interviewing for a job and you have 20 minutes each. Hiring good devs is notoriously difficult. You've said what one *shouldn't* do, but what *should* you do? Can you weed out all of those no hires in the interview? Most half-way intelligent people know the "right" answer to the behavioral questions and the like. And just as a good coder with a bad attitude is a no hire, so is a positive, great communicator who just learned C last week. So… Let’s say you have at least 10 people interviewing for a job and you have 20 minutes each. Hiring good devs is notoriously difficult. You’ve said what one *shouldn’t* do, but what *should* you do? Can you weed out all of those no hires in the interview? Most half-way intelligent people know the “right” answer to the behavioral questions and the like. And just as a good coder with a bad attitude is a no hire, so is a positive, great communicator who just learned C last week.

]]> Comment on All your blog spam are belong to us… (part deux) by knutson http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/02/17/all-your-blog-spam-are-belong-to-us-part-deux/#comment-4330 knutson Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:22:42 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/02/17/all-your-blog-spam-are-belong-to-us-part-deux/#comment-4330 Another one: Sincerely, your piece goes to the largest market of the matter. Your pellucidity leaves me desirous to know significantly much more. I’m going to instantly grab your nourish to maintain up for this reason far together together with your internet web page. Alleging thank you is just my small way of claiming fantastic job for outstanding resource. Let In my nicest wishes for the inflowing publish. Another one:

Sincerely, your piece goes to the largest market of the matter. Your pellucidity leaves me desirous to know significantly much more. I’m going to instantly grab your nourish to maintain up for this reason far together together with your internet web page. Alleging thank you is just my small way of claiming fantastic job for outstanding resource. Let In my nicest wishes for the inflowing publish.

]]> Comment on Adium – “Don’t Change” vs. “Change All” by Carty http://www.charlesknutson.net/2007/07/09/adium-dont-change-vs-change-all/#comment-4326 Carty Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:22:02 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/?p=93#comment-4326 I saw the best vent on this very argument the day I myself was presented with the very ambiguous question of "Don't Change" of "Change All". That this even happens just shows that you may be able to put the component together but if you lack effective communication skills to your target market things can go south very quickly, that was in essence the venters plight and I concur 100% I saw the best vent on this very argument the day I myself was presented with the very ambiguous question of “Don’t Change” of “Change All”. That this even happens just shows that you may be able to put the component together but if you lack effective communication skills to your target market things can go south very quickly, that was in essence the venters plight and I concur 100%

]]> Comment on All your blog spam are belong to us… (part deux) by Charles Knutson http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/02/17/all-your-blog-spam-are-belong-to-us-part-deux/#comment-4108 Charles Knutson Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:09:47 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/02/17/all-your-blog-spam-are-belong-to-us-part-deux/#comment-4108 I just had to add another to the collection: This area gift accommodate to interestingness your interests. Determine how oft you same to record intelligence from apiece music and add topics you take. I just had to add another to the collection:

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]]> Comment on Puzzle-solving: Not the driving function of software construction by Brett http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-3957 Brett Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:58:38 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-3957 @Glade Diviney First off, I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that the first part of your comment is simply restating what the article already make abundantly clear: that you need to see the applicants "juggle." If my assumption is wrong then I think you missed the point entirely! (see the title of the article if you need help) As for your question, you obviously read the first page of DeMarco and Lister's chapter on Hiring a Juggler. If you peruse a little deeper into the chapter, you will find the answer to your question :-) @Glade Diviney
First off, I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that the first part of your comment is simply restating what the article already make abundantly clear: that you need to see the applicants “juggle.” If my assumption is wrong then I think you missed the point entirely! (see the title of the article if you need help)

As for your question, you obviously read the first page of DeMarco and Lister’s chapter on Hiring a Juggler. If you peruse a little deeper into the chapter, you will find the answer to your question :-)

]]> Comment on Puzzle-solving: Not the driving function of software construction by Glade Diviney http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-3886 Glade Diviney Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:36:23 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2010/10/25/puzzle-solving-not-the-driving-function-of-software-construction/#comment-3886 It seems obvious that if you are hiring a juggler, a hiring manager should watch candidates ... actually juggle (H/T to DeMarco & Lister). Similarly, if you are hiring a software engineer, a hiring manager should watch candidates ... show high emotional and organizational sensitivity? It seems obvious that if you are hiring a juggler, a hiring manager should watch candidates … actually juggle (H/T to DeMarco & Lister).

Similarly, if you are hiring a software engineer, a hiring manager should watch candidates … show high emotional and organizational sensitivity?

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