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I've been in software development a long, long time. And I've always believed that the Analyst Programmer role was the best option, when it comes to getting things done. I should qualify that:
- an Analyst Programmer needs to have a good understanding of both the business and the technology/systems
- by "best", I mean most efficient.
This was borne out a couple of jobs back, when the software development team I was working in, consisted of experienced developers - and Analysts who had less understanding of the business, (than the developers), and no understanding of the technology/systems. Invariably, on receipt of a spec, developers would need to: identify actual requirements by talking to users; correct half-baked ideas that weren't in line with the technolgy; and devise their own testing. Analysts were actually making the whole job more difficult. Most - if not all - of the senior developers would have provided a quicker/better solution if they had done the analysis and spec work themselves. Yeah. Analyst Programmers.
Don't get me wrong. There are developers who shouldn't be let near a spec... or a user... and, in some cases, a keyboard. But they are the exception.
But there is one "blind spot" that a developer needs to overcome before taking on any sort of analysis role. Fast forward to today. I'm currently doing a few small jobs for a big company that has a small development team... and a "Solutions Architect". The Solutions Architect has been with the company for many years; started there as a programmer; has an in-depth understanding of both the business and the technology; and produces all the specs. But...
His mind-set is 100% that of a developer He has that "blind spot". And it's right there in his job title. What I want from a spec is a clear explanation of the problem - ideally with examples, that can provide the basis for testing. Want I don't want from a spec is just a solution. It's an easy trap to fall into. Developers tend to be fixers/solvers of problems - i.e. solution providers. If you can't explain the problem - the "why we need to do this" - you shouldn't be producing specs.
Remember... this just MHO. 
modified 21 mins ago.
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I know a guy who's completely into the technology, but has no eye for businesses.
He'd send out emails to customers saying stuff like "When you click the button we do an AJAX call and in the POST we store the entity in the database through a foreign key relation."
Well, maybe not that bad, but you get the idea.
Luckily, I checked his emails before he'd send them and it simply didn't occur to him to simply say "when you click the button we store the product."
That was way to simplistic according to him.
I once had a customer who didn't want to speak to a coworker anymore exactly because that coworker talked like that and the customer didn't understand him and wasted his time.
Because I've worked with many developers who are like that I'm for the duo.
An analyst, preferably one who also has technical knowledge, and a developer, going out to talk to the customer together.
They can both see how the customer works and what they do and after that the analyst can work it out, but the developers isn't blank either.
It's also good for the users and developers to get to know each other because it becomes easier for either of them to send and email or just pick up the phone.
Of course there are also many companies who shudder in fear of the idea that a developer and a user are in direct contact with each other.
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xkcd: University Commas[^]
Two questions:- Any UNICODE experts here?
- If there are, are there different code points for each type of comma?
This is what occurs to you when you wake up with the start of a migraine and you are working "chemically enhanced".
Software Zen: delete this;
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Gary Wheeler wrote: are there different code points for each type of comma?
Gnome characters says no. 
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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Comma, comma, comma, comma, comma chameleon
You come and go, you come and go
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Software Zen: delete this;
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Is the CCC too difficult - not even a wild guess makes me think no one is reading it.
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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I (think I) have the first two letters. The rest nothing.
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Thanks for additional clue! I think the answer is 'respite' (highlight text with mouse to read the suggested answer).
I admit that I used a list which sorts words by word length to help, but that would not have helped without the first two letters
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I'd say you have it. Jump in!
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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Thirty years ago I would probably have got it, but these days my brain is so full of rubbish ...
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He didn't give you the first two letters though
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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NO, but I only just got round to seeing it (hearing aids for the first time today, and they are driving me round the bend...)
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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MOT yesterday, hearing aids today - what next ? 
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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Posting the CCC? 
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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About malice give me a break (7)
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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OK, I'll take it ...
About RE
malice SPITE
give me a break
RESPITE
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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And I think YAUT
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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I just re-watched "Pump Up the Volume" (1990) and Harry's opening monologue is still accurate.
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Wordle 1,208 5/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Wordle 1,208 5/6*
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟩⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Wordle 1,208 5/6*
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Wordle 1,208 X/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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Wordle 1,208 6/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨
⬜⬜🟨🟩⬜
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Close one...
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Idiots, they are simply idiots.
So, on my new Windows 11 Pro laptop, I was notified that hey, it's time for an update. We estimate 3 minutes apply and reboot. Thinking I might as well get it over with, I say "Rodger dodger."
It's been going now for 45 minutes, has rebooted 3 times, and I'm going to bed. I guess this is what happens when your OS is a tightly tangled bowl of spaghetti.
Charlie Gilley
“Microsoft is the virus..."
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money"
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