@#@#@ stupid permies....

[OwlHoot]

So they chose a well-tested, stable, well-documented technology rather than being locked into some expensive proprietary system which hardly anyone knows how to use and would require extensive, expensive training for a few people who then screw the company up if they leave.

What a bunch of morons.

All that may benefit the company, but Francko's point was that they have shafted themselves in the process (or at least deprived themselves of an opportunity to acquire a more lucrative skill).

[d000hg]

All that may benefit the company, but Francko's point was that they have shafted themselves in the process (or at least deprived themselves of an opportunity to acquire a more lucrative skill).

I guess if they can get their customer to pay all the expensive costs then maybe, but still I don't have great views about proprietary software. I'm probably spoilt from there being so much great stuff online for main-stream technologies... the Apache libs being one specific example. The one time I worked with an expensive 'secret' technology only one person in the company knew it at all well; he was self-taught and the 'guru' on the subject - though luckily he was the kind of guy to freely admit he wasn't an expert.

[Francko]

All that may benefit the company, but Francko's point was that they have shafted themselves in the process (or at least deprived themselves of an opportunity to acquire a more lucrative skill).

It is something quite weird when it comes to some good techies. They know that their coding skills can make a difference. And on this they are quite right. The problem is that the decision makers do not quite know that and instead they believe that there is no quality in coding, it's just a simple skill that everybody can do. The only development who is going to stay here is the one that is tightly linked with the business side and most of the proprietary business process integration suites these days are the ones whose development has a chance to stay here because they integrate business with IT knowledge. Do something with only straight coding and you can be replaced with "much cheapness" the next day (at least for the ms excel managers who are in charge - but unfortunately there quite a lot of them around).

[vetran]

surely copy paper is our most valuable asset (copyright Scott Adams)