SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
There is an interview with Joel Spolsky on GeekWire which reports that companies should Just shut up and let your devs concentrate:
If you want to attract and keep developers, don't emphasize ping-pong tables, lounges, fire pits and chocolate fountains. Give them private offices or let them work from home, because uninterrupted time to concentrate is the most important and scarcest commodity.
That's the view of Joel Spolsky, CEO of Stack Overflow, a popular Q&A site for programmers, who spoke this morning at the GeekWire Summit in Seattle.
"Facebook's campus in Silicon Valley is an 8-acre open room, and Facebook was very pleased with itself for building what it thought was this amazing place for developers," Spolsky said in an interview with GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. "But developers don't want to overhear conversations. That's ideal for a trading floor, but developers need to concentrate, to go to a chatroom and ask questions and get the answers later. Facebook is paying 40-50 percent more than other places, which is usually a sign developers don't want to work there."
[Continues...]
Spolsky, who in 2011 created project-management software Trello, said the "Joel Test" that he created 16 years ago is still a valid way for developers to evaluate prospective employers. It's a list of 12 yes-no questions, with one point given for every "yes" answer:
- Do you use source control?
- Can you make a build in one step?
- Do you make daily builds?
- Do you have a bug database?
- Do you fix bugs before writing new code?
- Do you have an up-to-date schedule?
- Do you have a spec?
- Do programmers have quiet working conditions?
- Do you use the best tools money can buy?
- Do you have testers?
- Do new candidates write code during their interview?
- Do you do hallway usability testing?
"The truth is that most software organizations are running with a score of 2 or 3, and they need serious help, because companies like Microsoft run at 12 full-time," Spolsky said when he created the test. He said that remains true today.
How well does your organization support its developers? If new or better equipment would improve your productivity, is it made available to you? How is your work environment? How well does your organization score on the 12-point "Joel Test"? What is the biggest thing blocking your company from improving?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 11 2016, @04:14AM
I recall a comment where you referred to shitstain employees. You sir are an asshole, and everything and everyone you touch will become shitstained. So many people are struggling, with a recent story about precisely that thing, and here you have the bootstrapping gall to insult hard working g good people.
Good job, maybe its time to leave this site or at least stop reading the comments and just enjoy the nerdy news filtering by the submitter. Seeing the inner thoughts of what probably represents a good portion of humanity just gets me depressed, and the not-so-funny part of that is people like you probably would say "good go kill yourself then sniveling rat." Sadly that mentality of treading over others seems to be all the rage, and unless something changes it will lead humanity into the next horrific chapter instead of the prosperous reality that is currently possible.
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 11 2016, @10:08AM
You, sir, are correct. But that's not what pisses you off. What pisses you off is I believe in personal responsibility and accountability and those scare the hell out of you. Tough titties, sweet cheeks. This is what we call being an adult.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 11 2016, @12:03PM
No, what pisses people off is that you're an asshole about it.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 11 2016, @12:28PM
Would you like me to change your diaper? Maybe powder your little bottom? Grow up.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.