Gary Varga (10/7/2013)

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simon.crick (10/7/2013)

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Cadavre (10/7/2013)

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simon.crick (10/7/2013)

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I will probably get shot down again for saying this, but I believe people should stick to core technology and basic tecnhiques unless there is a very good reason for using exotic technology and advanced techniques.

Why? Because no one person (even those of you who think you are expert experts) can ever know more than a tiny fraction of all the available technology and techniques, and if we all go off on our own paths following our own preferences for exotic technology and advanced techniques, then our systems will end up being a completely unmaintanable mish-mash of technologies and techniques.

I am not dumb. I have consistently achieved very high grades and won awards for outstanding achievement, etc., but the more I learn, the more I realize it is impossible to know everything, and therefore, out of consideration for our colleagues, we really ought to be sticking to core technology and basic techniques wherever possible.

Simon

I disagree completely. You go with the "best" technique (measurable by performance tests) for the job, regardless of complexity. Then make sure that you document how the logic works.

So if it works 1% faster but is 10 times as complex, you still go for the "advanced" technique?

Surely, that is over simplifying the argument to validate your point.

It is frequently said on these forums that "it depends" and your statistical scenario would most likely result in a no to the "advanced" technique in most cases, however, there are possibly scenarios where 1% would be considered of enough benefit. Particularly as a tactical solution to overcome system capacity limit issues.

Yet I agree with you in principle that all too often a complex solution is rolled out due to:

role justification

CV engineering

curiosity

post-training experimentation

etc.

I guess this is another example of where professionalism should be applied alongside experience and expertise (and documenting skills ;-)).