Comments on: ALT.NET: How can Microsoft Patterns and Practices Help? http://lostechies.com/evanhoff/2007/10/28/alt-net-how-can-microsoft-patterns-and-practices-help/ Just another LosTechies site Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:52:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Steve Campbell http://lostechies.com/evanhoff/2007/10/28/alt-net-how-can-microsoft-patterns-and-practices-help/#comment-35 Steve Campbell Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:39:07 +0000 /blogs/evan_hoff/archive/2007/10/28/alt-net-how-can-microsoft-patterns-and-practices-help.aspx#comment-35 P&P has lost a lot of respect because of previous released stuff. You are posing as the experts, but all evidence so far has been to the contrary. I don't think that you can recover from that. Sorry. P&P has lost a lot of respect because of previous released stuff. You are posing as the experts, but all evidence so far has been to the contrary.

I don’t think that you can recover from that. Sorry.

]]> By: Evan http://lostechies.com/evanhoff/2007/10/28/alt-net-how-can-microsoft-patterns-and-practices-help/#comment-34 Evan Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:37:34 +0000 /blogs/evan_hoff/archive/2007/10/28/alt-net-how-can-microsoft-patterns-and-practices-help.aspx#comment-34 @ItWorksOnMyMachine: The only thing from P&P that I personally have seen in wide use was the original Data Access block. I've seen lots of people take the use of all static methods and apply that practice liberally afterward. (Ouch). That's water under the bridge, however. I'm not saying the factories, etc aren't useful. What I am saying is that a bigger push on the basics would have a much bigger impact. If they could ever tip the scale so that a large group of .NETers understood the fundamentals (even if it was only..say 30%), i bet it would naturally spread from there. It would make a lot of our jobs easier. And no one has to take my word on any of this stuff. Go talk to the person in your company who does technical interviews. Ask them what percentage of candidates understand the basics. @ItWorksOnMyMachine:

The only thing from P&P that I personally have seen in wide use was the original Data Access block. I’ve seen lots of people take the use of all static methods and apply that practice liberally afterward. (Ouch). That’s water under the bridge, however.

I’m not saying the factories, etc aren’t useful. What I am saying is that a bigger push on the basics would have a much bigger impact. If they could ever tip the scale so that a large group of .NETers understood the fundamentals (even if it was only..say 30%), i bet it would naturally spread from there. It would make a lot of our jobs easier.

And no one has to take my word on any of this stuff. Go talk to the person in your company who does technical interviews. Ask them what percentage of candidates understand the basics.

]]> By: ItWorksOnMyMachine http://lostechies.com/evanhoff/2007/10/28/alt-net-how-can-microsoft-patterns-and-practices-help/#comment-33 ItWorksOnMyMachine Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:19:32 +0000 /blogs/evan_hoff/archive/2007/10/28/alt-net-how-can-microsoft-patterns-and-practices-help.aspx#comment-33 While I don't totally agree with everything delivered by the P&P team, I have found some useful and I'll refer to the previous post as an example. I have inherited teams that had developers that were clearly employed because "the barrier of entry is so low". Given a team like that, many of the tools that the P&P team provides raise the bar considerably from their current skillset. For instance, the guidance packages provide them with repeatable recipies giving consistency to the codebase. It's been my experience that they accept them initially without understanding, but slowly begin to raise design questions which leads them to greater understanding with the right leadership. Are they perfect, absolutely not...but the processes are more consistent and repeatable. The reality is we don't always get to hire the best and brightest so we're forced to play the hand we're dealt and while I think there is room for improvement, the P&P Guidance does provide value. While I don’t totally agree with everything delivered by the P&P team, I have found some useful and I’ll refer to the previous post as an example. I have inherited teams that had developers that were clearly employed because “the barrier of entry is so low”. Given a team like that, many of the tools that the P&P team provides raise the bar considerably from their current skillset. For instance, the guidance packages provide them with repeatable recipies giving consistency to the codebase. It’s been my experience that they accept them initially without understanding, but slowly begin to raise design questions which leads them to greater understanding with the right leadership. Are they perfect, absolutely not…but the processes are more consistent and repeatable. The reality is we don’t always get to hire the best and brightest so we’re forced to play the hand we’re dealt and while I think there is room for improvement, the P&P Guidance does provide value.

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