Comments on: Coding isn’t as bad as you think…

By: Kashif

Kashif — Wed, 09 May 2007 22:30:25 +0000

Working around with corporates and getting my hands dirty with startups, I have managed number of projects and had to involve in ‘coding’ some time or other. So I would definitely say that coding isn’t bad at all. In fact, to me, “code is poetry”

By: Babar Bhatti

Babar Bhatti — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:24:20 +0000

I think Nausheen points out a culture problem in Pakistan – very valid.

On the contrary, in US for example there are many developers who started their company by writing the code for their product.

The one thing which I learned: smart people can adapt to do anything, all they need is motivation. As long as coders dont have a narrow focus they can be effective managers and leaders.

By: nausheen

nausheen — Tue, 08 May 2007 15:19:06 +0000

Well in my opinion
Most of the times the Managers ar ethe person who are in lime light
i m talkign specifically about the IT culture in pakistan not in other countries
the coders are back benchers in this case
only clapping on the “successful project” their Managers done and grabbed all the praise.

My only issue is the coders/developers must get their due respect and share in the lime light as well.

By: Osama A.

Osama A. — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:11:03 +0000

Qazi, I think that’s what she meant.

Engineers are the backbone of the company, but I have seen many companies where their input is not considered in the decision-making / planning process for the software.

Unfortunately there DOES exist a precedence that says the Project Manager inherently are better and know more than coders — this type of a culture is very negative for an engineering environment, and precisely what I wrote about in the “Why engr are afraid of becoming coders…” post.

By: Qazi

Qazi — Tue, 08 May 2007 13:38:04 +0000

Nausheen, I think engineers are in many cases the important decision-makers
1. Manage schedule keep track of projects.
2. Manage Resources risks hire fire people

Project managers rarely become technology experts the Coders/Engineers are the ones who after experience dictate or architect how some thing is to be done. also they are also the ones who tell the Project managers how long it will take to do some thing. Project managers are the ones co-ordinating.
putting it better. Coders/Engineers are the artist/creator, Project managers is the agent who sets up sale of their art work and collects the money acting as a interface between the artist and the customer
And believe me I have seen more times then less a Coder/Engineer being paid more than the Manager

By: nausheen

nausheen — Tue, 08 May 2007 13:15:28 +0000

osama u r right, Another reason for this is there is no career counciling of IT grads and no one tells them what are various career paths to follow. they just do what might be their seniors doing or some of their friends.
and qazi Although coders+tech ppl are most important asset for working of the company not for the company impt decision making process.
they are treated like 3rd world countries are treated by western world.

By: Qazi

Qazi — Tue, 08 May 2007 12:32:27 +0000

Also one thing you should always remember is that core asset for any technology company is not the project managers it is the coding or technology people.

By: Osama A.

Osama A. — Tue, 08 May 2007 12:17:27 +0000

Nausheen,

Your perspective is valid, and I’m glad to see more people atleast see it in a practical way.

Consider this tho: So what if everyone brainwashed you guys into believing that coding jobs are bad — now that you know they were wrong you should think about giving it a serious look.

The problem is people create an image as if “Project Manager” are higher in the company hierarchy than “coders”.

That’s completely false — project managers hold greater liability than coders, but they are equal people with just different roles.

It does happen that PM typically need some good experience in the market with actual SDLCs before they will be asked to manage software projects.

That experience is better learnt on the front lines, where you can atleast understand the coders perspective of the SDLC, and then learn the PM techniques of optimizing it.

Other than that, “coding” as a career is still bright — you have coding -> design -> business analysis / architecture -> Director Engr -> VP Engr -> CTO.

That’s the entire “coding” / Technical career stack. Even if there isn’t too much respect in “coding”, why give up on the chance to become someone respectable like Architect / VP Engr?

That’s what I mean when I say the youth are giving up too early by seeking an easy way out.

Project Management, on the other hand, is a completely different field altogether.

That said, I do agree that it is the responsibility of teachers in college to instill this bigger picture of career paths, but dont me started on how much that is lacking.

By: nausheen

nausheen — Tue, 08 May 2007 11:17:16 +0000

Well I dont agree with you..
Reason: I m taking a project management course these days, and only thing i have been told or i have learnt is that the developer i.e. coder is not fit for the senior positions like project managerr cuz they have different approach towards SDLC.
When in university i m being taough that being coder is not a good thing or i might say not much respectable…. then why should i look forward to career in it..rather do some non-techi job …
young grads are not to blamed its the senior ppl in our industry whom brainwashing is required.