> I think there are things that should only be done by people who
> know enough are who are visionary enough to do.
> My father used to complain about the "computer people" who used
> to tell him that doing this or that was not possible. He would tell
> me that he could do it with punch cards and so where is all this
> improvement. He was in managemnet.
??? Or people who have needs that the conventional software will not
meet. If there was a package to do what I do, I would be out of business.
> I have seen a lot of people who believe what is possible is defined
> by the software they use. I have seen people who have told other
> people that something is not possible because neither one of them
> know.
Over 90% think this way. They are in staff positions. Thinking that
way, they will stay in staff positions the rest of their lives. Or
should!
> Should web/database development be left to people who have not
> studied database theory/practice etc.? Will what these people
> imagine as possible now be dependent on their grasp of the
> software and not the concept?
Good people start with the concept, think it through and proof it as
much as possible against real-world examples; then they look at what it
takes to implement the concept, and how much the concept has to be
adjusted to meet the tools available on the market. They buy what it
takes to get the concept implemented. That includes buying mid level
technical consultants if needed.
Increasingly, it is possible for them to rough out the design using
existing software. I am not sure this is a good idea, because if the idea
person uses a singular tool, he begins to have ideas that only work with
that tool, loosing the ability to generate ideas that are "outside the
box".
Knowing more tools encourages working through the concept at the
concept level, rather than the implementation level. Ed Yourdon writes
that programmers who know many programming languages tend to work much
faster than those who fewer programming languages. I believe that is
because they redesign at the conceptual level, and so paint themselves
into fewer corners, figure out how to write less code, etc. Some come up
with stranger things like automation techniques, etc.
( http://ww.mall-net.com/jv/codegen.html )
> I am working on some database development right now. I have a
> few books on the subject and read a little here and there but I do
> not consider myself anywhere near a database expert. But I am
> aware that there are people who only work with databases.
> Apparently there is someone in our company who has worked
> extensively with databases. I am going to ask this person to
> evaluate my database design for a project we have. That will be
> interesting, I hope.
The greatest enemy, is the inertia of the mind. Those who have done
the same thing, or looked at things from the same point of vie too long,
are less likely to understand that needs drive tool use, not the other way
around. Let him optimize your code, not needlessly adjust your needs to
meet the tools.
> My point is that even though someone can click on the right
> buttons and get something to work, does that mean that they
> should design databases?
People with needs should design the specification. Whether they are
the ones to implement the specification is not important, as long as the
specification is not needlessly compromised. All people seek comfort and
ease. Specification designers are more apt to adjust the specification
needlessly to meet comfortable use of available tools when they are
developing.
My point is, to get to the top of the mountain, one needs to climb up
hill. Someone who knows part of the mountain may help you get there
faster, but he will likely try to talk you into the part of the mountain
he knows, regardless of whether it is the fastest or easiest way up.
An expert is an expert at doing what he does. An explorer is an
expert at doing what he does not do. And a consultant, as my father use
to say, is someone from out of town who can talk faster than anyone else.
Look for consultants who are explorers, not experts.
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