Subj : Re: Question about minimal requirements in programming
To   : comp.programming
From : CTips
Date : Tue Jul 05 2005 08:28 pm

John wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I have been a programmer for 10 years and I don't have a CS degree, I didn't 
> even go to university.
> 
> I write data-driven Windows & Web business applications developer and have 
> never had too much of a problem building anything.  I would have said I was 
> pretty good at what I do.  But after reading the "Mathematics for 
> programmers" & "Software Job Market Myths" threads, I must say ... I'm 
> feeling kind of inept.
> 
> Are the minimal requirements in those threads shared by everybody?
> 
> Does everybody here believe you must know Knuth inside and out in order to 
> write effective business applications?
> 
> Because in all honesty, in all the places I've worked, meeting about 50 
> other programmers.  Probably less than half would even know what "know Knuth 
> inside and out" means.  And nobody I've met has read them.
> 
> Sincerely,
> John
> 
> 

I'd agree with you about most app programmers. On the other hand, most 
systems programmers [people who write compilers, 5-9s systems, operating 
systems - stuff like that] generally do have a fairly solid mathematical 
foundation, and do have a much higher productivity than the typical app 
programmer.

It, btw, has nothing to do with formal education. One of the best 
developers I know is a BS (I think CS) and is mostly self-taught after 
that. Another good devleoper is an BS/MS EE, but most of his CS is 
self-taught.

You can develop business apps, possibly successfully, without any of the 
mathematical background.

Note, however, that we'd be willing to pay a *minimum* of $80kloc [+ 
bonus + relocation] to someone whose got both solid programming skills 
and a good computer-science + mathematical background - typical offers 
are higher.

And we still can't find them :(

.