“Watching non-programmers trying to run software projects is like watching someone who doesn't know how to surf trying to surf” sic Joel Spolsky.

Several years ago a frantic project manager asked me to do something by immediately bypassing all rules of the local SDLC even though his request had potential for disaster.  I responded with the old cliché "there are old pilots and there are bold pilots but there are no old bold pilots" to which he replied; "what are you, a man or a mouse?”  It got me to thinking about the real forces at play in the business of developing MIS software for everyday business use.  Technical skills and the oft-mentioned and omnipresent "communication skills" seemed not to be enough for teams to perform at the highest level.  Something else is needed and I think I have discovered it!

Consider this website your only resource for sane commentary on life in the trenches.  Written by a techie, for techies and their non-technical managers (and their managers).  While there is still no silver bullet (see related article), you can improve your results.  How you make the hire or no-hire decision depends on my discovery.  How you decide to organize your team or implement an SDLC depends on it as well.  How you design and program your final solution is greatly dependent on it.  What I have discovered is that "Wisdom and Discipline" make the difference.  Not better programmers, better bug-tracking tools and not some new-fangled methodology developed by outside consultants that haven't ever developed an application such as yours.  Wisdom that comes from years of seeing it done right and seeing it done wrong.  Wisdom to know why we do it this way verses that.  Knowing how to do something is not enough, you must understand the whys.  Great programming teams operating with the best know-how still create less than great works.  Wise teams always prevail. 

Coming soon... the blog!!!  Check back for the grand re-opening of this important resource.  Meanwhile, check out a few of these important links.  Great reading and food for thought to improve your results.

Joel On Software
How is a data model developed? (ERA is as close to a silver bullet as there is)
Upside Down Garage Doors
PowerBuilder Stinks
40 Hours Of Work In One (hour)
A Look Under the Hood
Can You Spell Aluminum?
My, You're Ugly!
Just Add Programmers (an SDLC disaster)
When Software Has a Soul
Top ten things ten years of professional software development has taught me