On saturday night, I went out to dinner and drinks with a few work friends. Nothing major, just about 15 of us having a bit of fun outside of work. We went to this great little place called Thai Foon in Darling Harbour. I can highly recommend it if you ever do dinner in the city.
The food was good and well priced, the service was great, even for our large crowd (we had our food out in 10mins!) and there was nice views of Darling Harbour.
One of these work friends commented that it was weird seeing work people outside of work. A few years ago I would have thought so, but lately I'm not fond of this notion. When you spend 8 hours a day, 5 days a week with these people, then theres no reason why you can't be friends outside of work. Generally, you'd think this would lead to better productivity as you know what your co-workers are like, and also mean you got someone to turn to when you're in difficulty.
I think it helps if they are reasonably in the same age group though. After you go about 10 years one way or another, its not that straightforward. There is definitely a massive generational gap every decade and you can't always relate. There's some overlap but not as much. Anyway I should do some work. As they say, TTFN. Ta Ta for now!
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Why software engineering is the hardest profession.
This is a highly debatably topic, but I think its quite valid and besides I enjoy a bit of shit stirring!
Firstly lets go with a definition of 'hardest' to put this into context. By hardest, I mean to include the stress, the hours, the bang for buck factor and the respect factor.
Your typical software engineer often does not get the level of respect they deserve. Often they are thought of as mere 'IT workers' or 'programmers'. If this was true, they no way would this be classified as hard. IT support is just like normal janitorial work, albeit of a technical nature. Something goes wrong and they clean it up ready to use again. Programmers just code what designs they are given. Software engineers have to take an problem, and convert it into a solution. This was never easy for even normal engineers, but for SEs its just even worse. This is due to the ignorance of people who think that adding a bit of functionality is easy. Sure its easy to tack on a feature, but software is like metal work... You really need to MOULD everything to make sure things don't start falling off.
So No.1 - software is finicky. Its actually worse then people in someway.
People don't do what you tell them to do. Software does EXACTLY what you tell it to do, not what you WANT it to do. So if it stuffs up, its actually YOUR fault.
No.2. The technology field accelerates far faster than any other field. Medicine has only evolved so far in thousands of years, but the IT field has gone in leaps and bounds in only a few decades. To avoid becoming redundant as a SE, you need to be always on top of your game and this means knowing all the latest techs and practises.
No.3. You are Quality's bitch. Since more and more important tasks are handled by computers, what you do will affect thousands, maybe millions of people. So everything has to be as close to perfect as you can make it. Otherwise you will feel the burn from those same thousands of people who'll strap you onto a burning pyre.
No.4. You are boring. Well you're not really, but society is cruel. Doctors are sexy (especially Addison Shepherd from Grey's Anatomy...hubba hubba), lawyers are sexy (even if they are pure scum), but when was the last time a software engineer interesting from a media perspective. I know a SE who says hes a grape grower (or anything other than an SE) when someone asks what he does.
Anyway theres more I could say, but I'll reserve that for another day.
Firstly lets go with a definition of 'hardest' to put this into context. By hardest, I mean to include the stress, the hours, the bang for buck factor and the respect factor.
Your typical software engineer often does not get the level of respect they deserve. Often they are thought of as mere 'IT workers' or 'programmers'. If this was true, they no way would this be classified as hard. IT support is just like normal janitorial work, albeit of a technical nature. Something goes wrong and they clean it up ready to use again. Programmers just code what designs they are given. Software engineers have to take an problem, and convert it into a solution. This was never easy for even normal engineers, but for SEs its just even worse. This is due to the ignorance of people who think that adding a bit of functionality is easy. Sure its easy to tack on a feature, but software is like metal work... You really need to MOULD everything to make sure things don't start falling off.
So No.1 - software is finicky. Its actually worse then people in someway.
People don't do what you tell them to do. Software does EXACTLY what you tell it to do, not what you WANT it to do. So if it stuffs up, its actually YOUR fault.
No.2. The technology field accelerates far faster than any other field. Medicine has only evolved so far in thousands of years, but the IT field has gone in leaps and bounds in only a few decades. To avoid becoming redundant as a SE, you need to be always on top of your game and this means knowing all the latest techs and practises.
No.3. You are Quality's bitch. Since more and more important tasks are handled by computers, what you do will affect thousands, maybe millions of people. So everything has to be as close to perfect as you can make it. Otherwise you will feel the burn from those same thousands of people who'll strap you onto a burning pyre.
No.4. You are boring. Well you're not really, but society is cruel. Doctors are sexy (especially Addison Shepherd from Grey's Anatomy...hubba hubba), lawyers are sexy (even if they are pure scum), but when was the last time a software engineer interesting from a media perspective. I know a SE who says hes a grape grower (or anything other than an SE) when someone asks what he does.
Anyway theres more I could say, but I'll reserve that for another day.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
To rent or not to rent...
Today's blog will star someone from my own work! To be precise they aren't actually starring, but they will be mentioned. So like Schindler's List, this blog is more based on a true story. It may not involve Jewish propaganda, but someone will get gassed at the end.
So we've got an annex behind our home which we built brand new. And did absolutely nothing with! I have no idea what my parents were thinking when they decided to build it, but its been sitting idle for little over a year. Sure its been handy for LANs and when visitors come, but otherwise its a completely idle resource. Theoretically I could move into it and have all this living space to myself, but realistically, WHY? At home all the living space I require is my bed and the 2 meter radius around my computer. Sure its annoying to have the folks come in and out, but I actually enjoy the company now and then.
Shock horror! A twenty-something enjoying their parents company...whatever will they think of next.
Anyway, a mate from work is moving out of home and I suggested this back place for him. Its a bit under the covers, but basically its about $4,000 more for me (hello Mazda3) and about $6,000 cheaper for him in rents. Also we get to car pool and share costs there. The legal is a bit shaky, but in general I shouldn't see a problem. The real issue is the fact I work with the guy!
There is definitely such a thing as too much friend time.
I remember my trip to Europe... 1 month in close proximity to my best friend drove me to consider murder. Actually it only took about 5 days before that. Well in retrospect I think everyone has been driven to consider murdering Jeff at some point regardless, but I digress from the topic at hand.
I think as humans we all need a balance, and that balance cannot be achieved if you don't have get some personal space. Denis Leary said it best when put his long lasting marriage down to "love, honour, respect and keeping the FUCK away from each other as much as possible... just come out, eat, talk, fuck and go back into separate bedrooms if possible".
The same applies here, except obviously not the marriage part, cos that would be scary and to be frank a little gay to even discuss. I'll keep you gentle reader informed as events unfold but for now, as promised, this shall end in someone getting gassed.
// farts
// exits in coughing fit.
So we've got an annex behind our home which we built brand new. And did absolutely nothing with! I have no idea what my parents were thinking when they decided to build it, but its been sitting idle for little over a year. Sure its been handy for LANs and when visitors come, but otherwise its a completely idle resource. Theoretically I could move into it and have all this living space to myself, but realistically, WHY? At home all the living space I require is my bed and the 2 meter radius around my computer. Sure its annoying to have the folks come in and out, but I actually enjoy the company now and then.
Shock horror! A twenty-something enjoying their parents company...whatever will they think of next.
Anyway, a mate from work is moving out of home and I suggested this back place for him. Its a bit under the covers, but basically its about $4,000 more for me (hello Mazda3) and about $6,000 cheaper for him in rents. Also we get to car pool and share costs there. The legal is a bit shaky, but in general I shouldn't see a problem. The real issue is the fact I work with the guy!
There is definitely such a thing as too much friend time.
I remember my trip to Europe... 1 month in close proximity to my best friend drove me to consider murder. Actually it only took about 5 days before that. Well in retrospect I think everyone has been driven to consider murdering Jeff at some point regardless, but I digress from the topic at hand.
I think as humans we all need a balance, and that balance cannot be achieved if you don't have get some personal space. Denis Leary said it best when put his long lasting marriage down to "love, honour, respect and keeping the FUCK away from each other as much as possible... just come out, eat, talk, fuck and go back into separate bedrooms if possible".
The same applies here, except obviously not the marriage part, cos that would be scary and to be frank a little gay to even discuss. I'll keep you gentle reader informed as events unfold but for now, as promised, this shall end in someone getting gassed.
// farts
// exits in coughing fit.
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