Re: Jumpstart a programming ability [- why?]

Subject: Re: Jumpstart a programming ability [- why?]
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2001 12:00:47 -0700

Alan Oslick wrote:

> May I question the underlying premise that the techwriter should learn a
> programming language?

To add to the points already made by another reply:

- Knowing a programming language (even the rudiments) makes you less
reliant on the coders. Your job is easier, and, in some cases, a source
of friction in the office is reduced.

- You can independently verify the information you receive.

- You widen your chances in the job market, especially for some of the
higher-paying jobs. Whether knowing a language is necessary for these
jobs is beside the point: the requirement is widely perceived as
necessary, so, in general, it is.

> I do think an understanding of the object-oriented programming approach is
> useful in most shops.

That depends on the shop. I'm intrigued by OO - what little I know of it
- but I've seen too many "waves of the future" to believe in every one
that comes along. If it is a new paradigm (and I meant that in the
strictest sense of the word, not as a buzzword), then, like any other
paradigm, it probably won't dominate until the last of the old school
dies off. By my estimate, that's at least two decades in the future :-)

--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com

"You know there ain't no kind of dream without some kind of debt
And I don't wanna go to bed, ain't nothin' happened yet."
- The Mollys, "I Don't Wanna Go to Bed"

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