DaveE

742 reputation

610

bio	website	realsoftwaresytems.com
	location	Los Angeles, CA
	age	52
visits	member for	2 years, 8 months
	seen	2 days ago
stats	profile views	15

Been writing code since 1984 when I created mailing labels from a custom-built multiuser manufacturing system using Business Basic on a Quantel (Mohawk Data Sciences) 7-bit system with removable disk packs. (ever been around a chain printer when the chain comes off?)

Busy learning C#, installers and deployment idiosyncracies now.

	742 reputation	bio	website	realsoftwaresytems.com	visits	member for	2 years, 8 months
610 badges		location	Los Angeles, CA		seen	2 days ago

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Jun 21	comment	Software cost estimation Yup, double. One of the most politically successful managers I worked for took developer estimates, tripled them, then negotiated with the users down to double. More often than not, the negotiated delivery dates were hit.
Jun 14	answered	Is there a point to including a “change log” in every code file when you are using version control?
Jun 9	awarded	Editor
Jun 9	revised	How did programmers use networking to share expensive computer resources in the 60's and 70's? working
Jun 9	answered	How did programmers use networking to share expensive computer resources in the 60's and 70's?
May 31	comment	Why is no C++ interview complete if it does not have vtable questions? @Martin - the original question was about why they get asked about at interviews. This is about the impression created by knowing something about vtables, not whether or not said knowledge necessary to be a competent developer.
May 31	comment	Why is no C++ interview complete if it does not have vtable questions? It certainly doesn't make you a better developer, but it certainly implies you know more that the preson who can't answer the question properly. Since the OP's question is about interviewing, it's useful in creating the impression you're a better developer than the next person, even if that's not factually true.
May 31	answered	Should you ever release something that you yourself could hack?
May 31	comment	Managing large number of app.config files We work the same way. I understand it can't be done in some places, but if you can it makes things much simpler.
May 25	comment	Why use an OO approach instead of a giant “switch” statement? If he's that much of a noodge, quote Knuth to him : "We should forget about small efficiencies, say about 97% of the time: premature optimization is the root of all evil."
May 23	comment	How do you tell if advice from a senior developer is bad? OP - you're both professionals, even if you have less experience, so have a professional discussion with him about the things you question. If he isn't willing to talk about the whys of his instructions, he isn't much of a mentor.
May 11	comment	Single line comments for multiple indented lines of code @mojuba: wouldn't you realistically have some other criteria to apply when searching rather than looking through the entire commit history? And if you're looking to revert that 1-in-1500 change and finding the particular commit is too much trouble, wouldn't it be simpler to reimplement given the current conditions? If it'll take three hours to find / revalidate (nothing is ever exactly the same as before) / retest or one hour to reimplement & test, reimplementation seems to be the better choice. ('three hours' is pulled outta my backside and has no particular significance)
May 3	answered	What should I consider when converting from ASCII to Unicode?
May 2	comment	How do I subcontract with another programmer? @OP - if you missed it, DO NOT USE FIXED-BID PRICING.
May 2	comment	How do I subcontract with another programmer? +1 @Rein. Fixed-price puts all the risk on you.
May 2	comment	Are Subject specific programming books a good idea +1 @Jetti - the 'friend' is trying to get their work done, not become a passable pseudo-expert in a related field. I worked for Exxon in a support capacity in the (former) Western Division's Geology group. The geologists needed to use computers to get their analysis done, not to become the programmers that made the tools they used to get their jobs done. With the help of the people in my team, they became passably competent in the theings they needed to do, but only one or two would ever have been hirable as 'programmers'.
Apr 29	comment	Contracting outside of full time contracting job When I worked for them, IBM Global Services viewed every single bit of contract work in the world as a potential sale. Their handbook read very much as you describe. I was told I'd be fired if I did work for my church's website because that took a potential sale off the table for GS, even though there was no way in hell they'd have gone to GS for the few hours' work. Tread lightly and be quiet.
Apr 26	comment	Is it usual if my employer asks me to get MCP certificates for higher salary? Yep. My company encourages us developers to get them (on our own dime & time) to keep the Gold rating. doesn't hurt at review time but doesn't really help, either.
Apr 23	comment	What design would you propose to log reporting data so that the capture of, say, an additional form field can implemented easier? "any change in...requirements" is a pretty broad question.
Apr 13	comment	Coaxing requirements out of business people? +1. The strawman technique is frequently the only way to get end users to think about what they do - their job is so automatic to them that it's actually hard for them to think about it.