🚀 go-pugleaf

ell@access4.digex.net wrote 16.03.96 on Re: Beware of "C" Hackers -- A rebuttal to Bertrand Meyer:

> : PRUDENT HIRING PRINCIPLE: Beware of C hackers.
> :
> : A "C hacker" is somewone who has had too much practice writing
> : low-level C software and making use of all the special techniques and
> : tricks permitted by that language.
> :...
>
> I agree 100% with what Meyer says here.

This depends. While doing too much programming in the wrong way can  
seriously twist one's mind, there are still "C hackers" in the above sense  
that can get out of this track. It all depends on how flexible the mind of  
the person in question is.
Of course, if you know somebody did low-level hacking for a long time, you  
should check wether that man is still able to do high-level programming.  
Or wether he can learn it in reasonable time.

In summary, I would count this against a potential employee, but I  
wouldn't make it the only criterion. And even the worst low-level hacker  
should be able to adequately code routines if the interface is given.

Besides, even in high-level projects, there is an occasional need to do  
low-level stuff. And I think introducing a high-level programmer into the  
gory details of low-level programming is as hard as weaning a low-level  
programmer from his bad low-level habits.

Just my 5c.


-Joachim

--
Im speaking for myself here.
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