4 ms·

Programmer Competency Matrix

17 points by Ashuu 13y ago

RyanZAG 13y ago
Usual misunderstanding, but needs to be pointed out: Automated testing Level 1: Has written automated unit tests and comes up with good unit test cases for the code that is being written Level 2: Has written code in TDD manner TDD is not for testing, TDD is for system design and an automatic work list. Using TDD does not mean the automated tests are better or worse - you are probably thinking of code coverage.
- six 13y ago
  Not to start another flame war on (T|B)DD, but (T|B)DD does not guarantee competence in any way, and I wouldn't force it on any of the engineers who work for me.
- wglb 13y ago
  I thought the second 'D' in TDD was for Development, not Design. I don't think it works to write failing tests and have that influence the design.
- whimsy 13y ago
  What would you recommend as a substitution for that entry?
mikeevans 13y ago
Google cache: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Asijinjoseph.com%2Fprogrammer-competency-matrix%2F&oq=cache%3Asijinjoseph.com%2Fprogrammer-competency-matrix%2F&aqs=chrome.0.57j58.953j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Asijin...
joshka 13y ago
suggestion: make it interactive (click to select etc.)
edem 13y ago
Error establishing a database connection
- iknight 13y ago
  i guess being able to keep a property up and running isn't one of them
andygeers 13y ago
What about "soft skills" like being able to manage their time well and relate to clients / customers in a productive manner?
Nursie 13y ago
Apparently I'm no good at the two categories of books or blogs, but then nobody has thought to test me on that before. Never did care for coding books when the internet is just there, and the only blogs I've written were on travel and brewing...
Roboprog 13y ago
One of my favorites was "Thinks Excel is a database" (or "1-2-3", back in the day). However, some of these were a bit overstrict, I think: * Source control: copying to a dated directory/archive deserves a bit more than "level 0". 0 would be more like "Sys admins do backups, right?" (or just "duh/what?") * Books: forget "24 hours" and "dummies", 0 would be more like simply doesn't read.
- Roboprog 13y ago
  I'm not sure giving extra kudos to those using git/hg instead of cvs/svn is appropriate either. You usually use what the employer has (demands), even if it's an abomination like MS Source Safe, Serena Version Manager, MKS Source Integrity or Clearcase :-) A better criteria might be what you do with the rev ctrl system: concurrent development; release candidate tracking; release change audit support.
PickUpTheBones 13y ago
I just want to say that anyone who follows the "code organization in a file" levels should get kicked in the nuts and shown the door. I like consistent white space but regions, comments and license headers are generally signs of horrible incompetence.

17 points by Ashuu 13y ago

Usual misunderstanding, but needs to be pointed out: Automated testing Level 1: Has written automated unit tests and comes up with good unit test cases for the code that is being written Level 2: Has written code in TDD manner TDD is not for testing, TDD is for system design and an automatic work list. Using TDD does not mean the automated tests are better or worse - you are probably thinking of code coverage.

six 13y ago
Not to start another flame war on (T|B)DD, but (T|B)DD does not guarantee competence in any way, and I wouldn't force it on any of the engineers who work for me.
wglb 13y ago
I thought the second 'D' in TDD was for Development, not Design. I don't think it works to write failing tests and have that influence the design.
whimsy 13y ago
What would you recommend as a substitution for that entry?

mikeevans 13y ago

Google cache: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Asijinjoseph.com%2Fprogrammer-competency-matrix%2F&oq=cache%3Asijinjoseph.com%2Fprogrammer-competency-matrix%2F&aqs=chrome.0.57j58.953j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Asijin...

joshka 13y ago

suggestion: make it interactive (click to select etc.)

edem 13y ago

Error establishing a database connection

iknight 13y ago
i guess being able to keep a property up and running isn't one of them

andygeers 13y ago

What about "soft skills" like being able to manage their time well and relate to clients / customers in a productive manner?

Nursie 13y ago

Apparently I'm no good at the two categories of books or blogs, but then nobody has thought to test me on that before. Never did care for coding books when the internet is just there, and the only blogs I've written were on travel and brewing...

Roboprog 13y ago

One of my favorites was "Thinks Excel is a database" (or "1-2-3", back in the day). However, some of these were a bit overstrict, I think: * Source control: copying to a dated directory/archive deserves a bit more than "level 0". 0 would be more like "Sys admins do backups, right?" (or just "duh/what?") * Books: forget "24 hours" and "dummies", 0 would be more like simply doesn't read.

Roboprog 13y ago
I'm not sure giving extra kudos to those using git/hg instead of cvs/svn is appropriate either. You usually use what the employer has (demands), even if it's an abomination like MS Source Safe, Serena Version Manager, MKS Source Integrity or Clearcase :-) A better criteria might be what you do with the rev ctrl system: concurrent development; release candidate tracking; release change audit support.

PickUpTheBones 13y ago

I just want to say that anyone who follows the "code organization in a file" levels should get kicked in the nuts and shown the door. I like consistent white space but regions, comments and license headers are generally signs of horrible incompetence.