Subj : Re: Industry Calls for More Foreign Programmers
To   : comp.programming
From : Mike
Date : Wed Aug 24 2005 10:44 am

In article <1124793460.596940.290900@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>, spinoza1111@yahoo.com says...

> Databases are BUILT, in part, on "linked lists". To know how they work
> and to use them effectively, you need to take a class in data
> structures.
>
There is a degree of overstatement here. It is necessary to understand a _little_ about the workings of databases in 
order to use them efficiently, but taking a class in data structures probably exceeds the required understanding for 
most database users.
 
> 
> The business claim that "a computer is like a car, and you do not have
> to be a mechanic to drive a car" is idiotic. First of all, a computer
> is not a car. Furthermore, MOST people drive poorly, both unsafely and
> in such a way that they end up polluting the environment, and this is
> because of the illusion that any moron has some sort of God-given right
> to drive a car.
> 
Similarly, you overstate the analogy. People may drive poorly if they have not been educated in efficient, economical, 
and safe driving techniques, but automotive engineering qualifications are not an appropriate requirement to improve 
their performance. Better, are sets of simple and relatively broad rules along the lines of:

1)	The fuel goes in this hole, the water goes in this one.
2)	Don't put the car into reverse when you are moving forwards at speed.
3)	If the car makes funny noises, pull over as soon as possible and get it checked out.
4)	Try to negotiate the road without making the tyres squeal.
5)	Drive at a speed appropriate to the traffic density, road, and weather conditions...
6)	etc...

A few dozen 'rules' plus a bit of common sense is sufficient to make an 'average' driver or database user safe and 
efficient. 

Mike

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