Peter Sawczynec wrote:
d) we have a handful of large free PHP user groups and these groups, say
the top 10, should be formally recognized, and one should be expected to
belong to one of these groups.
I understand the motivation, but I don't think mandating a membership in a
club is helpful. And why just limit it to the top 10? And who says/knows who
the top 10 are?
So what would be wrong if we just agreed as a professional group to use
these above entities as our bedrock standards. We use the Zend cert, the
Zend IDE/framework and officially sanction Php.net and
Sourceforge.net/PEAR as the defacto outlets of help/reference and code.
Hmmm, I am not likely what one would consider "enterprise PHP", but I have no
idea on how to outlet code on Sourceforge and I think the Zend IDE rapidly
inhales big time. And while I do like a good IDE, I don't know if tying
anything to a specific vendor is beneficial.
We would not deny the use of, learning of, or the amicable co-existence
of any and all other outlets/entities, but the above noted entities
would be the generalized initial standards.
I think it is not good to have tool X define your standard and outright say
that tool X is the standard. A standard should name specific requirements and
rules as to what needs to be adhered to. If tool X can do that, fine, but if
tool Y can do that as well and I happen to like it better, what's wrong with
that. I know you are getting at that, but "amicable co-existance" is a no go
when you clearly prefer one over all others.
So as a new programmer in books/classes/tutorials you are always pointed
to Php.net for reference, you are behooved to use from and contribute to
Sourceforge.net/PEAR, you are prompted/guided/expected to join a listed
user group, and you are advised to get Zend cert and learn that
IDE/framework.
Nah, have them look at the IDEs and frameworks that are available. For
example, I think NuSphere rivals Zend (and I think it wipes the floor with it,
but that is purely subjective), but both are not free. I find that a suitable
classification of a free environment such as is the case with PHP ought not
mandate and benefit for profit organizations as is the case with Zend.
And that a programmer who has Zend cert. and is a recognized user group
member can use the status of PHP+ user/programmer on their
credentials/resume.
I don't know enough about the Zend cert, but is that a cash cow like the cert
programs are for Cisco or Microsoft? Are there any other PHP certifications in
place? Doesn't CompTIA have something like that?
Also, who would be the entity issuing the PHP+ credential? If there is no
place one could verify the credentials anyone can just write it on their
resume, which devalues the credential quite quickly. Also, is it to be
internationally or only nationally recognized (such as A+)?
Just a thought. Now that could be a start.
It is a good start and a good thought.
David
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