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Re: Permanence and Programming as a "craft"

by deprecated (Priest)
on Apr 22, 2001 at 18:02 UTC ( [id://74567]=note: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??


in reply to Permanence and Programming as a "craft"

Hi, I wanted to chime in here (though most of the responses thus far have been spot-on with what I am about to say).

First, I currently work for a non profit organization. The difference in the people is pretty significant. One of the things I always disliked about working for commercial entities is the pressure. I have worked for so many companies that have gone under or been bought or been downsized, that an NPO is really where its at if you ask me. It allows me to focus more on what I see are the important things in work, my craft and my co-workers (as friends).

That having been said, I've been in the workforce as an IT guy for six years now. Thats been mostly Unix adminning, with some Mac stuff thrown in. The more perl I learn I find that more people want me to program for them. I recently took the plunge, with ACS, and I am officially (for the first time in my career), a "programmer/analyst" instead of a "senior unix administrator" (or similar). So, Wow!, I get to focus on what is important to me -- my work. I get the same feeling from Unix adminning because I leave quite a legacy. I conceive and implement new servers, I name new machines, I leave shell scripts and config files, and all manner of things all over the place. It is my responsibility to see that those reflect well on me, and that other users (perhaps even those without my skills) are able to use and learn from them.

You don't mention what you're forking from. Presumably since you were in there making that sort of decision, it was also some sort of shoot-from-the-hip programmer/admin type guy. I cant tell you whether you'll be satisfied in ten years. I can tell you, however, that if you take pride in your work, and work for something being done right rather than just being "done", you will be satisfied in ten years.

My father has been a unix admin for 25 years. He, too, works for satisfaction, and he is still satisfied. Funny thing is he was originally a programmer and moved into adminning. But I digress.

I wanted to also let you know that your perception of the programmer as a craftsman is an accurate assessment. There is a book available which makes this very correlary, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master. Furthermore, before I began work in IT, my life goal was to work in automotive mechanics and engineering. I never stopped looking at myself as somebody who had a craft. I transitioned very easily from somebody who was rebuilding engines to somebody who writes code. Because I can still see and feel my work. I can look at it at the end of the day, or in a month, and take pride in it -- and strive to be better.

At the risk of sounding trite, THAT is why we're all here, when it comes down to it. And that is what makes us craftsmen/masters/whatever. That we strive to be better.</saccharin>

Brother Dep.

--
Laziness, Impatience, Hubris, and Generosity.

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