I'd recommend you read http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html wherein Joel Spolsky was reviewe

I'd recommend you read http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html wherein Joel Spolsky was reviewed by Bill Gates. It is pretty clear the man had serious technical chops.