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'The reason is twofold: The growing ability for users to write and implement their own programs, as well as outsourcing the task of computer programming.' Huh?
by devmonk 16y ago
'The reason is twofold: The growing ability for users to write and implement their own programs, as well as outsourcing the task of computer programming.'
Huh? I can change the oil in my car, but I don't do it much, and it doesn't make me a mechanic, nor do I build cars.
'This is one of the few cases where it hurts you to be in the digital field: Because your work is digital, you can do it from anywhere in the world.'
Sure there is globalization, but telecommuting jobs aren't ubiquitous.
'Plus, the work of computer programmers requires little localized or specialized knowledge. All you have to know is the computer language.'
This is so wrong, I can't even go there.
- apotheon 16y ago> Sure there is globalization, but telecommuting jobs aren't ubiquitous. I think she was referring to overseas outsourcing specifically to save on wages rather than more mundane telecommuting where the only necessary reason for it is to de-emphasize the office environment. > This is so wrong, I can't even go there. This is one reason I disagree with the notion in someone else's comment that "computer programmer" means "systems programmer" to this article's author. I think she is actually thinking of "programmer" as someone who is nothing but a code monkey, following stupidly simple instructions to build stuff that is generic across different problem domains, while "software engineers" are somehow inherently better without her really understanding or being able to articulate how they are better. Of course, that kind of code monkey job does not really exist, much, even if that kind of code monkey often fills jobs that really should be filled by people with some domain specific knowledge.
- devmonk 16y ago> I think she was referring to overseas outsourcing specifically to save on wages rather than more mundane telecommuting where the only necessary reason for it is to de-emphasize the office environment. And that is why I said, "Sure there is globalization." She went too far and stated that it can be done from anywhere. If that were true, very few programming jobs would be on-site. While there are a good number of jobs that can be outsourced onsite, partial-onsite, offsite, blended-shore, offshore, etc., not all are, because not all can be. I agree with her that offshoring is a reason for decrease in development jobs, but not all of them can go away. You have to have onsite FTEs that are invested in the company and have in-house knowledge for some jobs. > I think she is actually thinking of "programmer" as someone who is nothing but a code monkey... Judging by the number of comments on her article, I think she was just trying to cause a disturbance.