Excellent post Simon, I agree with much that you have stated here.
Especially in the fact that even though you pass the test, it doesnt mean
that a given person can write efficient code (which is a huge issue). It
doesnt mean that they can solve real life problems when confronted with
them.
I have not taken the certification test given by allaire (Personally $150
outta my pocket isnt too enticing.) but I know that the brainbench test lets
you use outside materials when testing. Thats a pretty broad scope there,
you could have a book open with your hand right on the index if you needed
any quick answers, among other things. Are we testing how fast you can find
the answer in a book???
With a couple of those things in mind I think you should use the tests as a
measure of how far your abilities are coming along. In fact the test can be
a nice confident booster in most cases but then again on the down side can
be just the opposite for people who dwell on such things.
I think you mentioned something else that wuz important. The ability to read
& understand the syntax of the code. This indeed is important in itself as
it does demonstrate your given quick rationale in thinking & knowledge on
the given subjects at hand but like you said doesnt illustrate that you can
write good code.
>From: Simon Horwith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: CF-Talk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: RE: Certification Exam
>Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 12:43:13 -0500
>
>I have been reading this thread, and just wanted to mention that neither
>the
>allaire test, nor the brainbench test, actually means you have a clue how
>to
>program in CF. The allaire test seems to do a better (more thorough) job
>of
>testing your understanding of web application architectures and
>implementations, and the brainbench test might do a better job testing your
>syntax knowledge and your ability to read code and know what it's doing....
>but neither of these tests illustrate to me, that a person has the ability
>to write good code. There's a huge difference between spitting out
>memorized answers, and actually using this knowledge in the real world.
>The
>tests are nice things to say you've done, and they might make prospective
>employers and clients feel better, but like so many other tests out there,
>they're no substitute for experience and good practice. If you feel you're
>experienced enough that the test doesn't or shouldn't matter, then you're
>probably ready to take it, and should take it, to emphasise your talents.
>If you don't feel that experienced... my advice is to get experienced
>before
>taking the test... even if it's building apps on your laptop.
>Like I said, just my two cents.
>
>~Simon
>
> > Simon Horwith
> > Certified ColdFusion Developer
> > Fig Leaf Software
> > 1400 16th St NW, # 220
> > Washington DC 20036
> > 202.797.6570 (direct line)
> > www.figleaf.com
> >
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Stewart McGowan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
>Sent: Friday, November 17, 2000 12:26 PM
>To: CF-Talk
>Subject: RE: Certification Exam
>
>
>I wonder if the UK certified doodahs could give me an idea of the
>advantages
>of certification?
>
>
>Kind Regards
>
>
>Stewart
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at
>http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm
>
>Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
>Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at
>http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm
>
>Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
>Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at
http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm
Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
