Developer Skills
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All the blonds become project managers?
They keep my pencil sharpened.
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I'm curious why anyone would hire junior or intermediate programmers these days. Surely a senior one that is actually good makes better economic sense?
"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it." -Sam Levenson
Indeed, juniors are really only useful on large teams. It's like a pyramid. If an enterprise wants to economize, they can reduce the size of the team, but if so they must increase the average experience level of the members. Eliminate the lower-level developers, not the higher-paid ones.
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Having recently been plagued with a junior developer whose coding doesn't seem to be improving (even after working for close to 3 years :wtf: ) and interviewing a bunch of people who despite extensive programming experience, still cannot complete a very basic coding test :confused:, I've decided to investigate what skills the coding community reasonable think that Junior, Intermediate and Senior developers should be capable of... Opinions please?
Junior writes:
if ( x == true )
return true ;
else
return false ;The code is easy to read and the logic is correct and easy to follow. Intermediate writes:
return x==true?true:false ;
Uses more of the language/toolset. The code is more concise (and dense) but is not as easy to read; the logic is still correct, but harder to follow. Advanced writes:
return x ;
Cuts to the chase, uses only the tools required, doesn't try to show off his superior knowledge.
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Junior writes:
if ( x == true )
return true ;
else
return false ;The code is easy to read and the logic is correct and easy to follow. Intermediate writes:
return x==true?true:false ;
Uses more of the language/toolset. The code is more concise (and dense) but is not as easy to read; the logic is still correct, but harder to follow. Advanced writes:
return x ;
Cuts to the chase, uses only the tools required, doesn't try to show off his superior knowledge.
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I think the REAL problem is that so many developers are asking such high salaries compared to their skill level. We had one applicant that wanted $50,000/yr - fresh out of college and with absolutely no work experience in the industry. I've been programming for nearly 30 years, and I don't make much more than that myself, and I'm rated at Programmer 4. Maybe that's why I don't have problems finding work. I don't have over-developed expectations (I personally think US programmers as a group are WAY over-paid). We're currently looking for an entry-level programmer (Programmer 1 or 2). They're idea of adequate pay for man entry level coder is $30k/yr. If I were a developer desperate for a job, I think I'd be willing to dumb-down my resume in order to get an interview, and then take the job when it was offered. For the record, we find it very difficult to find programming talent in San Antonio, and I think it's because developers aren't so ready to accept the lower pay that the geographic area demands. That serves to feed the problem that there aren't a lot of high-tech companies in town with programming positions. It's a vicious cycle.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001You know I have to agree with you to some extent, however, I would think junior programmers should generally make more than managers at McDonalds. Of course my first job out of college I did make $25k with no benefits and it did serve me well so maybe I can see some advantage to it. As a traveling consultant I get to watch the low pay in low cost of living centers with a different perspective. Houston pays $30 to $70 more per hour on a contract basis than San Antonio (The only contract I saw in San Antonio paid $25/hr). When I talk on the phone to these places I have been laughed at, scoffed, scorned, and ridiculed at my rate compared to their, "low cost of living city" but the bottom line is my expenses would be higher so I would end up making less than I would in a major city.
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
If you don't ask questions the answers won't stand in your way.
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego. -
Indeed, juniors are really only useful on large teams. It's like a pyramid. If an enterprise wants to economize, they can reduce the size of the team, but if so they must increase the average experience level of the members. Eliminate the lower-level developers, not the higher-paid ones.
A Ponzi pyramid? The only way to be Senior is to have Juniors below you, eh?
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
If you don't ask questions the answers won't stand in your way.
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego. -
A Ponzi pyramid? The only way to be Senior is to have Juniors below you, eh?
Need software developed? Offering C# development all over the United States, ERL GLOBAL, Inc is the only call you will have to make.
If you don't ask questions the answers won't stand in your way.
Most of this sig is for Google, not ego.And keep them there.
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Junior:
- Able to work unsupervised on small projects.
- Able to research technical problems and develop complete solutions using only an Internet connection and an Amazon.com gift card.
- Able to understand the architecture of an existing system after a few weeks spent reading the code.
- Perky and brunette.
Intermediate:
- Able to work unsupervised on large projects.
- Possesses knowledge required to accomplish common tasks with minimal time spent on research.
- Obsessive about thoroughly testing all code before checking it in.
- Able to understand the architecture of an existing system after a few days spent reading the code.
- Perky and brunette.
Senior:
- Able to supervise large projects.
- Able to write books and articles used by junior developers when researching technical problems.
- Able to write brutal testing systems for all new code prior to checking it in.
- Able to recognize and understand the architecture of an existing system after a few hours spent reading the code, as well as provide a list of potential problems should the system be adopted, and several suggestions for significantly improving performance and reducing resource consumption. Should be able to explain the system to a junior programmer or a senior manager with equally good results using completely different terminology, and above all should be able to do so while remaining
- Perky and brunette.
Shog9 wrote:
Perky and brunette.
I can already do the latter, and if people stop buying me drinks I might just manage the former.... ;P
Anna :rose: Having a bad bug day? Tech Blog | Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "If mushy peas are the food of the devil, the stotty cake is the frisbee of God"
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Oh, yeah, I forgot to include Brilliant/Guru/Hacker Supreme
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FWIW prior to Sterling's recent dive $50k would be about right for a graduate in the UK.
Anna :rose: Having a bad bug day? Tech Blog | Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "If mushy peas are the food of the devil, the stotty cake is the frisbee of God"