Reply to: State of the Market

[malvolio]

Sorry, but I expect that when I propose a solution that doesn't use the DIVIDE statement nor a constant of 4 you'll say it's wrong and drip feed in some other requirement that fits only the answer you came up with.

Not my first rodeo.

No, its a real problem i had to solve in the 90s - write a reusable subroutine to apply across a suite of complex real time applications to validate if any given 4 dhigit year was a leap year or not. The inout parameter was a four digit number, the output was a simple Yes/No flag.

Other requirement was to be as memory efficient as possible while using COBOL features.

There is more than one answer, but no need to code it, merely work out a high level solution.

[Dorkeaux]

Nor should you. We use the skills we have to their best effect. obviously. On occasion I'm tempted to dig out my old ANSI 74 COBOL skills and see how I get on*!

Just acknowledge that all the other skills are no less critical. We're all here to service the business, after all.


Nice challengefor us oldies. Write a COBOL subroutine to test for leap years up to year 9999. You can't use a DIVIDE statement. Or a number 4...

Sorry, but I expect that when I propose a solution that doesn't use the DIVIDE statement nor a constant of 4 you'll say it's wrong and drip feed in some other requirement that fits only the answer you came up with.

Not my first rodeo.

[malvolio]

i don't do applications.

It's not about applications. It's about efficient use of COBOL. Or if that's too difficult, it's about lateral thinking.

[Protagoras]

got wrong techs then, or windoze DCs

What I see happening here is that 'we' are reduced to in-fighting, be it about technical skills, nationality or whatever. It's not nice and it's not helpful.

Our challenge is that with no credible government willing to invest in the UK to rebalance and grow our economy it's becoming 'every man for himself'.

We're being punished by successive governments' policies aimed at supporting their favoured skakeholders to the detriment of UK workers. Half a century ago it was manufacturing and heavy industry. Later is was utilities (read essential public services). Time moved on and it's been our turn for a while now. There's a pattern here ...

Government policies set the basis for costs in the economy. They've driven out business and they're driving out people. Even if we had an election tomorrow, I don't see any party with the vision to make the levels of investment necessary, rather we'll probably just have more rent-seeking privatisation, driving up our costs (and taxes) in a spiral of decline.

There are probably only two camps; those with the skills to survive and those with the funds to opt-out. Certainly there's no point holding out for better days; they're behind us.

[Protagoras]

Just acknowledge that all the other skills are no less critical. We're all here to service the business, after all.

For those like me, "Service the business" is simply a means to an end.

The main objective is to extract maximum personal revenue for the minimum effort while hopefully enjoying it a bit.

[fatJock]

Powerpoint Monkeys(PMs) and Bullsh1t Artists(BAs) are a waste of time anyway.

got wrong techs then, or windoze DCs

Wrong on all counts.

[sadkingbilly]

Nor should you. We use the skills we have to their best effect. obviously. On occasion I'm tempted to dig out my old ANSI 74 COBOL skills and see how I get on*!

Just acknowledge that all the other skills are no less critical. We're all here to service the business, after all.


Nice challengefor us oldies. Write a COBOL subroutine to test for leap years up to year 9999. You can't use a DIVIDE statement. Or a number 4...

i don't do applications.

[malvolio]

I'm not crying.

Nor should you. We use the skills we have to their best effect. obviously. On occasion I'm tempted to dig out my old ANSI 74 COBOL skills and see how I get on*!

Just acknowledge that all the other skills are no less critical. We're all here to service the business, after all.


Nice challengefor us oldies. Write a COBOL subroutine to test for leap years up to year 9999. You can't use a DIVIDE statement. Or a number 4...

[sadkingbilly]

Yeah, best part of a hundred tears later and the coders and techies still think they are the key people in IT...

I'm not crying.

[sadkingbilly]

Infra PM here, done many a DC relocation that would have been carnage left to Techs.

got wrong techs then, or windoze DCs

[Cookielove]

You are right that it's hard to stop companies offshoring. You can make them pay more tax but then they will just up sticks and move to a different country. However, successive governments could have stopped giving out visa's quite easily and then the real kick in the teeth is this ridiculous agreement with India that Indian workers pay no NI. This is totally unforgiveable to me and the more I think about it the more mad it makes me.

Yep 100% this, they could have stopped the Visas but the Indian workers NI is another kicker no wonder people are pissed off.

[malvolio]

Infra PM here, done many a DC relocation that would have been carnage left to Techs.

Yeah, best part of a hundred tears later and the coders and techies still think they are the key people in IT...

[fatJock]

Powerpoint Monkeys(PMs) and Bullsh1t Artists(BAs) are a waste of time anyway.

Infra PM here, done many a DC relocation that would have been carnage left to Techs.

[sadkingbilly]

- how do you envisage projects being delivered without PM's and BA's. By magical unicorns?

might be better, at that

[avonleigh]

Powerpoint Monkeys(PMs) and Bullsh1t Artists(BAs) are a waste of time anyway.

<sigh> - how do you envisage projects being delivered without PM's and BA's. By magical unicorns?