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example.com0 points · 0 comments · 13 years ago · edw519
A smart accountant once told me that the answer to "How much money did you make?" is always, "Who wants to know?" If it's an investor, the answer is "A lot." If it's a customer, the answer is "A little." If it's the IRS, the answer is "None."
Same thing here. The answer to "Who is a good programmer?" is always, "Who wants to know?"
To a project manager, the programmer who hits every deadline (regardless of quality) is a good programmer.
To a customer, the programmer who solves their problem quickest is a good programmer.
To a business owner, the programmer who makes them the most money is a good programmer.
To a PHB, the programmer who makes them look the best is a good programmer.
To a journalist, the programmer who tells the best stories is a good programmer.
To a junior programmer, the best mentor is the good programmer.
To another programmer, the programmer they are most likely to want to go into battle with is a good programmer.
To a blogger, the programmer who best fits the profile of the point he is trying to make is a good programmer.
anthonyb
batgaijin
why-el
[deleted]
Ubiquite
gadders
Obviously not true, unless your project manager is a complete idiot.
crncosta
hnriot
> To a customer, the programmer who solves their problem quickest is a good programmer.
Up until the codebase is such unbelievably appalling shit that you can no longer add new features, solve problems or reliably hit deadlines. I have worked on too many of these projects to be able to easily count them.
Typically, I'll be the one fixing up something after the previous developer has run away or has been sacked. There's often a culture shock when the manager/customer/project manager who is used to calling the shots suddenly finds that their latest idea needs to take a back seat while deeper (often 'invisible') problems get fixed.
Perhaps another take is that a "good programmer" is one who is still around and still adding features after a couple of years.