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> And, that attitude--as exemplified by "owning the documents" and
> becoming well-informed--represents the cornerstone of an article that I
> wrote (in a fit of pique at one too many technical writer whines
> about self-inflicted woes) about getting along with developers. See:
>http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/gettingalongindevelopmentgroups.html
For anyone who hasn't read the article: do so. It's a concise guide to
getting along.
I'd add a few points, one minor, two more important:
First, the minor: in your efforts to get on to the developer's mailing
lists, don't forget to ask if there's an IRC channel. To judge by my
last couple of jobs, that's something you're starting to see.
More importantly:
1.) Don't forget the importance of diplomacy. You'll get vastly
different reactions if you say "This is a bug," as opposed to, "Excuse
me, I can't get this to work the way I think it should. Am I missing
something here?" The second is not only more likely to build
co-operation, but also gives you a way to back down if the problem
really is with your understanding.
2.) Make some efforts to talk to the developers as people. Don't just
talk to them about work. Go to lunch with some of them. Play Half Life
after hours, the way that Andrew suggests. There may be some people with
whom you'll be better off just having a working relation, but don't if
you treat people distantly and only talk to them about work, they'll
treat you the same way.
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com
"I just hope that I don't die
Before the harvest comes."
-Si Kahn, "Mississippi Summer"
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