RE: [MLUG] Software development: was mono

["James Brockman" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

-----Original Message-----
From: EMAIL:PROTECTED
[mailto:EMAIL:PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Shawn Parker
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 10:35 PM
To: MLUG Members
Subject: Re: [MLUG] Software development: was mono

>> i see the advantage of portability for mono. it just seems to me that
.net developers are unlikely to switch to writing apps in mono for
linux/windows when they can just write .net for windows. <<

In many shops, the developers don't make those decisions.  Management might
decide that IS will go into for Unix or Linux for any number of reasons.
Sometimes, they decide to go all out, sometimes they decide to go for a
mixed operation, and sometimes they just don't make a decision.  

My point here isn't to debate those reasons or sometimes a lack of them.
Mono is an interesting development environment that allows managers to let
their staffs learn on Windows, and the best later work on Linux without
having to completely retool.  With fewer and fewer computer science
graduates each year, managers that don't outsource their apps development
are going to be going back to the 90's, so to speak.  

Back then, IT staff were often developed from power users out in the
business units rather than college graduates in IT.  This wasn't everyone's
first choice, but back then Computer Science graduates laughed at the
starting salaries available in government and small to mid-size businesses.

The so called "Business Developer" (Sun's terminology, not mine) was
stronger on business process than technology (or in government, regulatory
process).  With the Microsoft approach to development, it **might**
(depending on a number of factors) make more economic sense to make someone
a mediocre developer with lots of business knowledge than start with a
top-flight developer and then tediously educate him or her in every aspect
of the business/agency before they can do more than small fixes.

James Brockman





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