Tricky situation at work
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Has anyone started a new job and found themselves in this kind of situation? What did you do about it? I'm new in my developer position, the only developer in this non-tech organization, and my predecessor was loved by everyone and they still worship the ground he walks on. I'm always getting compared to him in the most negative ways, when I haven't even had time to prove myself yet (I was an inside candidate who moved from another department into this position). Anyway, he put together some big development projects while he was here and everyone was thrilled by how quickly he worked. So I started going through his ASP code (I'm an ASP.NET person) and was amazed to find out that he used a code generator (a 30 day free trial) for everything!!! So, what can I do? Do I tell my organization that this guy they love didn't even write his own code? They may not even care because no one here understands what the developer does anyway. The thing is, they are still paying him to be a consultant on the side, which I found out after I started this job. I'm going to have to say something because I'll probably end up rebuilding this entire project over again anyway because this out-of-the-box generated code is impossible to work with! But how can I communicate all this to my boss?:confused:
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Has anyone started a new job and found themselves in this kind of situation? What did you do about it? I'm new in my developer position, the only developer in this non-tech organization, and my predecessor was loved by everyone and they still worship the ground he walks on. I'm always getting compared to him in the most negative ways, when I haven't even had time to prove myself yet (I was an inside candidate who moved from another department into this position). Anyway, he put together some big development projects while he was here and everyone was thrilled by how quickly he worked. So I started going through his ASP code (I'm an ASP.NET person) and was amazed to find out that he used a code generator (a 30 day free trial) for everything!!! So, what can I do? Do I tell my organization that this guy they love didn't even write his own code? They may not even care because no one here understands what the developer does anyway. The thing is, they are still paying him to be a consultant on the side, which I found out after I started this job. I'm going to have to say something because I'll probably end up rebuilding this entire project over again anyway because this out-of-the-box generated code is impossible to work with! But how can I communicate all this to my boss?:confused:
Why is the generator code impossible to work with? I ask you because it could actually be quite good if it's something like CodeSmith (some of the supplied templates are very good). You can actually get a free copy of CodeSmith or MyGeneration and make use of their templates yourself. Why not avail yourself of the same advantages that your predecessor did? It doesn't make sense for you to code everything from scratch yourself.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Has anyone started a new job and found themselves in this kind of situation? What did you do about it? I'm new in my developer position, the only developer in this non-tech organization, and my predecessor was loved by everyone and they still worship the ground he walks on. I'm always getting compared to him in the most negative ways, when I haven't even had time to prove myself yet (I was an inside candidate who moved from another department into this position). Anyway, he put together some big development projects while he was here and everyone was thrilled by how quickly he worked. So I started going through his ASP code (I'm an ASP.NET person) and was amazed to find out that he used a code generator (a 30 day free trial) for everything!!! So, what can I do? Do I tell my organization that this guy they love didn't even write his own code? They may not even care because no one here understands what the developer does anyway. The thing is, they are still paying him to be a consultant on the side, which I found out after I started this job. I'm going to have to say something because I'll probably end up rebuilding this entire project over again anyway because this out-of-the-box generated code is impossible to work with! But how can I communicate all this to my boss?:confused:
Just try to follow the same steps the other guy did. Like Pete said, CodeSmith is a good one.
"Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon
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Has anyone started a new job and found themselves in this kind of situation? What did you do about it? I'm new in my developer position, the only developer in this non-tech organization, and my predecessor was loved by everyone and they still worship the ground he walks on. I'm always getting compared to him in the most negative ways, when I haven't even had time to prove myself yet (I was an inside candidate who moved from another department into this position). Anyway, he put together some big development projects while he was here and everyone was thrilled by how quickly he worked. So I started going through his ASP code (I'm an ASP.NET person) and was amazed to find out that he used a code generator (a 30 day free trial) for everything!!! So, what can I do? Do I tell my organization that this guy they love didn't even write his own code? They may not even care because no one here understands what the developer does anyway. The thing is, they are still paying him to be a consultant on the side, which I found out after I started this job. I'm going to have to say something because I'll probably end up rebuilding this entire project over again anyway because this out-of-the-box generated code is impossible to work with! But how can I communicate all this to my boss?:confused:
Since the system is already up and running, try work with the code generation tool. Using code generator is quite common nowadays anyway and you might pick up a few things or two. As for the 30 days trial, ask the company innocently, about the license. If nobody knows what the heck you talking about, explain to them the system was built using the code generator, and the company need to purchase the license to continue support it (company needs to purchase it for commercial use, depending on the license, anyway).
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Has anyone started a new job and found themselves in this kind of situation? What did you do about it? I'm new in my developer position, the only developer in this non-tech organization, and my predecessor was loved by everyone and they still worship the ground he walks on. I'm always getting compared to him in the most negative ways, when I haven't even had time to prove myself yet (I was an inside candidate who moved from another department into this position). Anyway, he put together some big development projects while he was here and everyone was thrilled by how quickly he worked. So I started going through his ASP code (I'm an ASP.NET person) and was amazed to find out that he used a code generator (a 30 day free trial) for everything!!! So, what can I do? Do I tell my organization that this guy they love didn't even write his own code? They may not even care because no one here understands what the developer does anyway. The thing is, they are still paying him to be a consultant on the side, which I found out after I started this job. I'm going to have to say something because I'll probably end up rebuilding this entire project over again anyway because this out-of-the-box generated code is impossible to work with! But how can I communicate all this to my boss?:confused:
An important key is to, no matter how you feel, not make the other developer look bad because they'll (the dev and the organization) likely turn that onto you. A couple of the suggestions here are good ones - see if you can use the generated code so long as it adequately supports the projects it's being used for, look into licensing if required, and use any downtime you have (it may not be for awhile, of course) to dissect and rebuild areas that end up requiring it due to generated code limitations. I know this is not an easy thing, but right now focus on whatever makes the job fun and a great learning experience for you, and forget what the organization says. If you have a mentor there talk with that person to get some proactive tips, but otherwise, just consider yourself a maverick, have at it, don't let yourself feel pushed into a corner, and forget the rest. Good luck!!!! :cool:
_________________________________________________ Have a great day!!! -- L.J.
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Has anyone started a new job and found themselves in this kind of situation? What did you do about it? I'm new in my developer position, the only developer in this non-tech organization, and my predecessor was loved by everyone and they still worship the ground he walks on. I'm always getting compared to him in the most negative ways, when I haven't even had time to prove myself yet (I was an inside candidate who moved from another department into this position). Anyway, he put together some big development projects while he was here and everyone was thrilled by how quickly he worked. So I started going through his ASP code (I'm an ASP.NET person) and was amazed to find out that he used a code generator (a 30 day free trial) for everything!!! So, what can I do? Do I tell my organization that this guy they love didn't even write his own code? They may not even care because no one here understands what the developer does anyway. The thing is, they are still paying him to be a consultant on the side, which I found out after I started this job. I'm going to have to say something because I'll probably end up rebuilding this entire project over again anyway because this out-of-the-box generated code is impossible to work with! But how can I communicate all this to my boss?:confused:
Just work smart as the others suggested. As for the negative comments, if you do your job to the best of your ability people will soon recognise that, and you'll be fine. If people continue with the negativity just remind yourself their the ones with the problem - not you.
Mark Brock Click here to view my blog
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Just work smart as the others suggested. As for the negative comments, if you do your job to the best of your ability people will soon recognise that, and you'll be fine. If people continue with the negativity just remind yourself their the ones with the problem - not you.
Mark Brock Click here to view my blog
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"just remind yourself their the ones with the problem - not you." Goes with "If they didn't need you, you wouldn't be there." Remember that :)
-= Reelix =-
Id rather work in a supermarket with people I like and respect, than in a software company with rude/stupid people who I have no respect for.
Mark Brock Click here to view my blog