Loner (9/19/2008)
Developers aren't any worse than anyone else... they just don't know what they don't know. You're well ahead of the game... you, at least, are willing to admit that you don't know about some things.
Yes at least some developers are learning because we have no choice.
However on the other hand some DBAs think they know everything and refuse to listen and learn.
What is worse? A good developer in house of a bad DBA ?????
Just hiring a DBA in house does not solve the problem, it depends on that person's skills and knowledge. If the person who interviews to hire a DBA and does not know anything about database, the chance is the company will hire a doofus as the 'wonderful' DBA.
No... hiring a DBA would solve the problem. The hard part, it appears for most managers, is actually finding a DBA and not some cowboy that thinks (s)he is because they know how to install the Developer Edition. 😀
So far as getting people to listen and learn, you sometimes have to use a "bat" in the form of before'n'after code. If you cannot prove what you say, what you say is not proof and few will listen without proof especially if your way is on the fringe of innovation or effectiveness. And, "white-papers" and forum posts are not proof. Only code or demonstrably hacking lame security is proof. 🙂
Everyone has had managers that would rather get it done in a hurry instead of doing it right. You've got three choices there, too. Proof of the ROI of good code, do what they say and smile even if artificially (I never do that if they're wrong), or get out of the company.
--Jeff Moden
Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.