4 ms·

you know what's insane about that video? the CEO of a 100 (200?) person software company is writing docs. but then again i'm not surprised that wolfram is a mic

you know what's insane about that video? the CEO of a 100 (200?) person software company is writing docs. but then again i'm not surprised that wolfram is a micromanager.

jimmcslim 8y ago
And I quote... > Usually we (which quite often actually means me) will write documentation for a function before the function is implemented.
roel_v 8y ago
The article says 800. I can't imagine what it would be like, to be part of a machine of 800 people basically set up to cater to the whims of one overlord.
- CRConrad 8y ago
  Two words: Larry. Ellison.
- duado 8y ago
  Every company is set up to cater to the whims of one overlord. Then there is a group who can change the overlord. Most effective companies are dictatorships with a fairly reasonable dictator.
  - JauntyHatAngle 8y ago
    I don't think I necessarily agree. While having one person who has complete control and effectively focuses a business to the correct decisions and technical goals is super effective, part of that effectiveness is getting the rest of the business on the same mindset as you and giving employees room to add their technical nous to the work. The criticism leveled (which I do not actually any insight to the truth of) is that essentially people have to follow his "whims" and are micromanaged, which does not bring out the best of employees and can be very stifling. But that said, I don't know the truth of that criticism.
Arbalest 8y ago
The way you say it is like you're saying that Documentation should be second class, not just that it is anyway. Keep in mind that the software in this particular case, is software used mostly for the API, so the Documentation is front and centre.
- jfultz 8y ago
  Very much so. The documentation is the specification, so it's not merely writing the documentation, but writing the specification. Another interesting tidbit that plays into this...the syntax coloring is programmatically derived from the documentation (yet another consequence of the documentation being the specification). This wasn't mentioned in the meeting because most or all of the participants already knew this, but it's an important part of the subtext of the discussion. Speaking as an insider who wasn't present at that particular meeting, but has been present in some other live-streamed meetings.
sytelus 8y ago
Attention to detail is not micro-managing. In fact, it's very very good thing and you should have respect for people at CEO level having this kind of care, understanding and passion for their products. It's kind of thing that makes Steve Jobs, the Steve Jobs.
- xkcd-sucks 8y ago
  Especially as documentation is kind of the core value proposition of Mathematica

you know what's insane about that video? the CEO of a 100 (200?) person software company is writing docs. but then again i'm not surprised that wolfram is a micromanager.

jimmcslim 8y ago

And I quote... > Usually we (which quite often actually means me) will write documentation for a function before the function is implemented.

roel_v 8y ago

The article says 800. I can't imagine what it would be like, to be part of a machine of 800 people basically set up to cater to the whims of one overlord.

CRConrad 8y ago
Two words: Larry. Ellison.
duado 8y ago
Every company is set up to cater to the whims of one overlord. Then there is a group who can change the overlord. Most effective companies are dictatorships with a fairly reasonable dictator.
- JauntyHatAngle 8y ago
  I don't think I necessarily agree. While having one person who has complete control and effectively focuses a business to the correct decisions and technical goals is super effective, part of that effectiveness is getting the rest of the business on the same mindset as you and giving employees room to add their technical nous to the work. The criticism leveled (which I do not actually any insight to the truth of) is that essentially people have to follow his "whims" and are micromanaged, which does not bring out the best of employees and can be very stifling. But that said, I don't know the truth of that criticism.

Arbalest 8y ago

The way you say it is like you're saying that Documentation should be second class, not just that it is anyway. Keep in mind that the software in this particular case, is software used mostly for the API, so the Documentation is front and centre.

jfultz 8y ago
Very much so. The documentation is the specification, so it's not merely writing the documentation, but writing the specification. Another interesting tidbit that plays into this...the syntax coloring is programmatically derived from the documentation (yet another consequence of the documentation being the specification). This wasn't mentioned in the meeting because most or all of the participants already knew this, but it's an important part of the subtext of the discussion. Speaking as an insider who wasn't present at that particular meeting, but has been present in some other live-streamed meetings.

sytelus 8y ago

Attention to detail is not micro-managing. In fact, it's very very good thing and you should have respect for people at CEO level having this kind of care, understanding and passion for their products. It's kind of thing that makes Steve Jobs, the Steve Jobs.

xkcd-sucks 8y ago
Especially as documentation is kind of the core value proposition of Mathematica