All, I have reworded two of my comments. The originals were open to many interpretations, most of which were not intended by me. See below.
In an attempt to reengage the psychologists on this list who seemed to have been shocked into silence at the sight of their cherished research and noble ideas put to such apparent base use, I will point out one argument against capitalist goals. There are cases where the benefit to society may outweigh a companies freedom to develop software as it sees fit. The following paper should be a must read for every person interested in improving the world. And a very depressing read it will probably be, to most people: "High-Pressure Steam Engines and Computer Software" by Nancy Leveson: http://sunnyday.mit.edu/steam.pdf Perhaps the psychologists on this list might venture to suggest what they would say to the government, if asked to make recommendations, backed up by scientific evidence: o that certain practices should be adopted by software developers, o that certain people were not fit to write software (for instance before starting work as an electronics trainee, I had to take a test to show I was not colour blind; wires are colour coded and connecting the wrong coloured wires can do more than blow up a chip. No pass test, no job). ------------ >> > Yes, automated tools will remove the need for 'good' programmers. I was using the word need here in the sense of demand. Also reduce would be better than remove. "Automated tools will reduce the demand for 'good' programmers." >> > But the purpose of software development is not to create a cadre >> > of good programmers, but to make money for their employers. Of course money is too specific a term here. Employees create value for their employers, which is a more generalised concept than money. derek -- Derek M Jones tel: +44 (0) 1252 520 667 Knowledge Software Ltd mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Applications Standards Conformance Testing http://www.knosof.co.uk - Automatic footer for [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe discuss To join the announcements list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe announce To receive a help file, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] help This list is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss%40ppig.org/ If you have any problems or questions, please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
