On Sat, 27 Jun 2015, Craig Cook wrote:
<snip>
A better field to think about is Auto Mechanic.
<snip>
I like the cars example as well. You have specialists working in high end
racing teams doing amazing things to get their teams car across the line first.
Some system administrators do similar feats squeezing the last bit of
performance out of infrastructure to help their companies win (e.g. stock
market trading).
You have some mechanics who can work well on an entire car. Motor,
transmission, brakes, etc.
You have some system administrators who work well in lots of infrastructure
areas, hardware, OS, apps, storage, network, etc.
You have some mechanics who specialize, e.g. a transmission shop.
You have some system administrators who also specialize. e.g. Windows or Linux
Administrator.
You have hobbyist mechanics who work on their own cars.
You have hobbyist sys admins too.
Wide range of skill levels in both fields. There is even a whole lot of
technology in the automotive field.
Exactly, the more I look at it the better the parallels.
slashdot has an interesting post today, similar discussion but talking about
programming.
http://news.slashdot.org/story/15/06/30/016225/how-computer-science-education-got-practical-again
a couple good examples from the comments
Computer Science and Computer Programming (Score:3)
by CHK6 (583097) on Tuesday June 30, 2015 @08:34AM (#50017919)
There is a gulf difference between what I consider Computer Science and Computer
Programming. They are easily mistaken as one in the same. The easiest way to
explain the differences between a computer scientist and a computer programmer
is a computer scientist develops algorithms optimized for binary logic; they are
in a sense the mad scientists in the lab. Where as a computer programmer knows a
set of computer languages and creates solutions; which they are in a sense the
practical applicators of what computer scientists create.
Now there is a lot of overlap between the two in varying degrees based on the
skill set one has. Most computer scientists have programming skills and most
programmers know how to optimize code, but it's what the primarily focus on that
splits the difference.
What this author is trying to say is computer programming can be a trade of a
learned skill set, much like a brick layer is a learned skill set; albeit a
crude example. If companies are bemoaning about the lack of computer programmers
and the skill sets in the market, then they need to realize that mandating a
college degree is not needed. It makes no sense that 120+ credit hours from a
collegiate university where a large chunk of those credits have nothing to do
with the skills sets needed for the degree are needed. When in actuality, 1 to 2
years of full time study in just computer programming is more than enough. This
is the same for other trades like electricians, plumbers, machinists, and the
other vital skill sets needed for society's infrastructure. We do not expect the
vital skill sets for these (electricians, plumbers, etc. etc.) professionals to
have 4 to 6 years degrees. IT makes no difference to me if an electrician has
read and studied G. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales or if a plumber understand the
photosynthesis of pine trees. Yet for some unknown reason companies think you
must have the lick and seal of a university degree to be a "good" computer
programmer.
Programmers are the new bricklayers (Score:4, Insightful)
by mystuff (1088543) on Tuesday June 30, 2015 @07:40AM (#50017663)
Sure, but you can't ask a team of bricklayers to assemble a livable house. In
fact in this analogy it's so obvious that you also need an architect, a plumber,
etc, that there's no need to even mention it. But when it comes to programmers
and (corporate) management it's a whole different story. They will get a team of
'bricklayers' together and tell them to build the next Youtube - or a bit close
to home, the next corporate content distribution platform - and then be utterly
dumbfounded when that blows up in their face.
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