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Is a computer science education either necessary or desirable for
doing systems programming? business programming? being a DBA or data
administrator? As someone who has been a systems programmer and an
applications programmer, the only IT course I had was Numerical
Analysis and Programming for Digital Computers (the computer was an
IBM 650). I am grateful that I never had to do statistical analysis
since I could never wrap my head around the subject. In response to
Anton, this is ON topic for this group because it covers one of the
most important issues, what do background do we need to do our job.
I frankly think that Computer Science is the wrong curriculum for
business programming because understand business problems, business
politics is at least as important as understanding database theory. A
course that stresses the foibles of floating and fixed point
arithmetic, BOTH binary AND decimal also would be very useful. A
refresher that going into the best ways to access data including
whether new tools like Lambda Expressions (see
http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2007/04/08/new-orcas-language-feature-lambda-expressions.aspx
for an explanation) are worthwhile. For systems programming, the
concepts of reliability, backup and tradeoffs should be taught.
Exposure to Unix based systems (Linux, Apple Mac, Solaris, etc.) and
one of the classic mainframe systems (IBM z/OS, Unisys 2200, Unisys A
series MCP, etc.) probably would be useful.
I think that the topic of broader brush education and upgrade needs
further exploration.
In terms of outsourcing, etc., how does an organization treat its IT
people versus its accountants or its marketers or its engineering
staff? As someone who is semi-retired (collecting pension but willing
to code for pay) and due to geographic constraints only able to work
on a contract basis, it may be inconsistent that I think that too many
companies are moving too much responsibility to outside people.
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I will PARTLY agree with Clark on this. There a few aspects of Computer
Science that are important and useful, such as Data Structures. But I've
found that a background that is more "rounded" has been equally helpful.
My own background is in Physics and Math, but I took a LOT of courses in
the various engineering disciplines available, as well as basic
accounting and business courses. I managed to learn enough to be able to
grasp the basic concepts, even if I'm not a "engineer".
A broad background is very useful, but not the end-all to be-all. For a
System Programmer, much of that might have been wasted, but I was often
called upon to help with programming problems in some of these other areas.
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