Comments on: Looking For Another Ninja – What Makes a Good Programmer? http://blackninjasoftware.com/2009/04/01/looking-for-another-ninja-what-makes-a-good-programmer/ SharePoint and SQL Server Consulting, Business Intelligence and Reporting, ASP.NET Vancouver Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:55:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: black ninja http://blackninjasoftware.com/2009/04/01/looking-for-another-ninja-what-makes-a-good-programmer/comment-page-1/#comment-31 black ninja Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:57:17 +0000 http://blackninjasoftware.com/?p=494#comment-31 @gibby - I think you've completely missed the point of this post. Being a good listener and a willingness to be taught are both great questions, and don't necessarily have to clash with the list above. We are a passionate, dedicated group of people that love coming to work everyday. We look for those same qualities when interviewing any potential candidates because it makes us more successful as a team. It's a loose guide and is only meant to articulate that we want people who are engaged, love what they to, have a desire to learn, and want to better themselves each and every day. We're not looking for clock punchers. I've updated the list above to reflect the qualities that are most important to us. @gibby – I think you’ve completely missed the point of this post. Being a good listener and a willingness to be taught are both great questions, and don’t necessarily have to clash with the list above.

We are a passionate, dedicated group of people that love coming to work everyday. We look for those same qualities when interviewing any potential candidates because it makes us more successful as a team. It’s a loose guide and is only meant to articulate that we want people who are engaged, love what they to, have a desire to learn, and want to better themselves each and every day. We’re not looking for clock punchers.

I’ve updated the list above to reflect the qualities that are most important to us.

]]> By: gibby http://blackninjasoftware.com/2009/04/01/looking-for-another-ninja-what-makes-a-good-programmer/comment-page-1/#comment-30 gibby Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:00:47 +0000 http://blackninjasoftware.com/?p=494#comment-30 I think the list above is a great list for a company that normally takes advantages of its employees. I feel as if I've already met you just from reading your list. Would you like sugar with that coffee sir? I believe any person dedicated and passionate about whatever they want to achieve, can be a success. The two most fundamental questions to ask any potential employee are. 1. Do you listen? 2. Are you willing to be taught? I'm glad you posted your list of questions so that young potentially creative programmers will come my way. Thanks I think the list above is a great list for a company that normally takes advantages of its employees. I feel as if I’ve already met you just from reading your list. Would you like sugar with that coffee sir? I believe any person dedicated and passionate about whatever they want to achieve, can be a success. The two most fundamental questions to ask any potential employee are. 1. Do you listen? 2. Are you willing to be taught? I’m glad you posted your list of questions so that young potentially creative programmers will come my way. Thanks

]]> By: Criteria For Hiring a Good Developer | SharePoint Fun http://blackninjasoftware.com/2009/04/01/looking-for-another-ninja-what-makes-a-good-programmer/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Criteria For Hiring a Good Developer | SharePoint Fun Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:38:42 +0000 http://blackninjasoftware.com/?p=494#comment-29 [...] anyone is interested, Black Ninja posted a relevant article on what we consider to be a good developer. The article in reference is actually written by Daniel [...] [...] anyone is interested, Black Ninja posted a relevant article on what we consider to be a good developer. The article in reference is actually written by Daniel [...]

]]> By: otaku http://blackninjasoftware.com/2009/04/01/looking-for-another-ninja-what-makes-a-good-programmer/comment-page-1/#comment-28 otaku Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:18:09 +0000 http://blackninjasoftware.com/?p=494#comment-28 If I had enough money that I didn’t have to work: - I'll learn Smalltalk and LISPto program every day; - I'll go to Japan to live @belle: our dreams are related ^_^ If I had enough money that I didn’t have to work:
- I’ll learn Smalltalk and LISPto program every day;
- I’ll go to Japan to live

@belle: our dreams are related ^_^

]]> By: black ninja http://blackninjasoftware.com/2009/04/01/looking-for-another-ninja-what-makes-a-good-programmer/comment-page-1/#comment-27 black ninja Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:03:35 +0000 http://blackninjasoftware.com/?p=494#comment-27 @Plainswalker - I totally agree with your "starting programming in university" caution; there are several passionate and capable developers out there who discovered development later in life. We use most of this as a guide, and there will definitely be exceptions here and there, but for the most part, we find it to be a pretty good measure. @Jim - You're bang on Jim, that terrifies us also. Anyone who tells me that they eventually want to get into management makes me go 'huh'? @Plainswalker – I totally agree with your “starting programming in university” caution; there are several passionate and capable developers out there who discovered development later in life. We use most of this as a guide, and there will definitely be exceptions here and there, but for the most part, we find it to be a pretty good measure.

@Jim – You’re bang on Jim, that terrifies us also. Anyone who tells me that they eventually want to get into management makes me go ‘huh’?

]]> By: Plainswalker http://blackninjasoftware.com/2009/04/01/looking-for-another-ninja-what-makes-a-good-programmer/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Plainswalker Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:52:30 +0000 http://blackninjasoftware.com/?p=494#comment-26 Most of it is spot-on, although the "clearly smart" criterion is too nonspecific for my tastes. There's also a caution about the "starting programming in university", as I know of a few people (good programmers all) that got interested in programming at univ or even after. I really agree with the "large variety of unrelated technologies" - even if it is not really programming (maybe VMs, maybe databases, etc), as you know they are passionate about the tech field. Most of it is spot-on, although the “clearly smart” criterion is too nonspecific for my tastes. There’s also a caution about the “starting programming in university”, as I know of a few people (good programmers all) that got interested in programming at univ or even after.

I really agree with the “large variety of unrelated technologies” – even if it is not really programming (maybe VMs, maybe databases, etc), as you know they are passionate about the tech field.

]]> By: belle http://blackninjasoftware.com/2009/04/01/looking-for-another-ninja-what-makes-a-good-programmer/comment-page-1/#comment-25 belle Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:06:33 +0000 http://blackninjasoftware.com/?p=494#comment-25 If I had enough money that I didn't have to work: - I will build a handful of VMs with different versions of SQL Server, and crash all of them, and then do DR. That will be a high. - I will buy tons of SQL Server tools and give them away for free! - I will be watching lots of anime and Japanese shows :) - I will fly to Japan to get fresh Japanese green tea. If I had enough money that I didn’t have to work:

- I will build a handful of VMs with different versions of SQL Server, and crash all of them, and then do DR. That will be a high.

- I will buy tons of SQL Server tools and give them away for free!

- I will be watching lots of anime and Japanese shows :)

- I will fly to Japan to get fresh Japanese green tea.

]]> By: trephine http://blackninjasoftware.com/2009/04/01/looking-for-another-ninja-what-makes-a-good-programmer/comment-page-1/#comment-23 trephine Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:05:46 +0000 http://blackninjasoftware.com/?p=494#comment-23 100% agree on the list of positive and negative indicators. When I had an opportunity to interview potential engineers, the one question I got the most out of was "If you had enough money that you didn't have to work, what would you do with your days?" It should go without saying that a great developer would honestly answer that they'd be programming. I know I would - every day. This is one of those questions which is easy to fake if you know what the interviewer wants to hear, but the followup question must be, "Oh really, you'd be programming. What would you work on?" And this gets to the point of the Icebergs and personal projects listed above. I actually heard candidates respond that they'd really like to move into project management and direct others. This is a huge red-flag that they're not into it and you're going to end up having to replace them. -- Jim R. Wilson (jimbojw) 100% agree on the list of positive and negative indicators. When I had an opportunity to interview potential engineers, the one question I got the most out of was “If you had enough money that you didn’t have to work, what would you do with your days?”

It should go without saying that a great developer would honestly answer that they’d be programming. I know I would – every day.

This is one of those questions which is easy to fake if you know what the interviewer wants to hear, but the followup question must be, “Oh really, you’d be programming. What would you work on?” And this gets to the point of the Icebergs and personal projects listed above.

I actually heard candidates respond that they’d really like to move into project management and direct others. This is a huge red-flag that they’re not into it and you’re going to end up having to replace them.

– Jim R. Wilson (jimbojw)

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