Steve Jones wrote:

It may mean that the newest, youngest person at your company might rise much faster than you simply because they're a better DBA or developer.

Sounds a bit...

Some software developers (the abstractors) are really good at abstracting the common parts of software problems and creating reusable tools to deal with them. Others (the elaborators) use those tools,...

What we always need to remember is that it's the practitioners, not the methodology *or* the patterns, that are going to make the critical difference between success or failure.

Very...

I just use this division to try to organize my thoughts at times. Evidently my thoughts are not well organized even so, or Craig would be happier with my expression...

I also wanted to say that I found Lisa's remarks about elaborators and abstractors fascinating.

I didn't follow them at all. I wouldn't mind (no pun intended) an elaboration, or...

I think you'll find that you both actually agree with me ...

Not really. Not for the sake of being obstinate, but for reason of simply not understanding your point.

I just...

The key thing here is (pace Steve) we don't actually "do the same work for decades". Come to think of it, really good carpenters don't either.

Carpenters' tools from the time...

Ah, well, Lynn, we have something in common. I left Blighty in the early 80's, not wanting to see the final results of Thatcher's social and fiscal 'leadership'.

This punter did...

Somehow we went from software engineering to superannuated Hollywood actresses.

It's been an interesting ride! But I'm honestly at a loss to understand where Meryl Streep comes into any of this...

Sorry, I can't let that one pass. Ms. Streep is a super-powered exception. Many, many very good actresses are *not* working at her age, because of age bias.

And what...

Terrific editorial, Steve.

I'm aged 56, and after a couple of successful stints in IT management, I returned, of my own volition, to software development some years ago. And at risk...

Brad McGehee wrote:

I was making the assumption that over a long period of time, 50, 100, 500 years, that the role of DBA administrator would probably go away as software...

There's a real difference between the DBA and DA roles. And the DA role which Brad McGehee suggests seem to live at the junction of IT and many of the...

DMurray asked: 'What it boils down to is "who do you trust?"'

What about customer reviews of a given app - provided 'astroturfing' can be minimised? Could they be as good...

Greetings, Solomon,

Thanks for your kind reply.

Regarding the use of CLR integration within SQL Server: a highly competent database developer such as yourself (I've visited your website - impressive stuff!), who...