tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759480248865232582.post2519581979512366182..comments2022-12-05T14:20:09.598+11:00Comments on Chris Mountford: Swamp Waders and WatchmakersChris Mountfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03560327085364406517noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759480248865232582.post-84963792397778074002009-04-06T12:12:00.000+10:002009-04-06T12:12:00.000+10:00Hi Grant,Yes I was quite severe in editing my orig...Hi Grant,<BR/><BR/>Yes I was quite severe in editing my original draft (though perhaps it doesn't show). I hope it didn't make the post too obtuse.<BR/><BR/>The traits of Swamp Waders and Watchmakers are not mutually exclusive in an individual, however, they are features of different strategies for management of complexity in code. <BR/><BR/>Swamp Waders are able to navigate complexity without cleaning it up. They do not expect order to be present and rely less on the hygiene of the system in order to proceed. Their strength is that they are optimised for poorly organised code which is prevalent in some places.<BR/><BR/>Critically, Swamp Waders can make modifications to messy systems without a negative emotional reaction to greater unforeseen problems which comes with this approach. They expect that things are always like this and probably estimate it better than Watchmakers. Perhaps being faced with this kind of complexity is an adrenalin rush. Many young coders like creating little jungles for their own enjoyment!<BR/><BR/>Watchmakers are less able to navigate complexity during fix work. They prefer to make changes in isolation of other effects because they like the predictability. When code is organised and well factored (and obviously well unit tested) then there are fewer surprises. Predictability allows the developer to commit time without concern that it will be wasted by the need to do rework. <BR/><BR/>Watchmakers are characterised by a sharp dislike of rework and late discovery of hidden work and the conviction that better organisation could often avoid the rework and make more of the task visible before starting.<BR/><BR/>What do you think? Does this accord with anything you know about effective developer discipline?Chris Mountfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03560327085364406517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2759480248865232582.post-79313767339937187372009-04-03T02:07:00.000+11:002009-04-03T02:07:00.000+11:00Please elaborate specifically on the traits of swa...Please elaborate specifically on the traits of swampmakers and watchmakers. You cover their actions; but I think you are thinking about more than you shared in the post.Grant Rettkehttp://www.wisdomandwonder.com/noreply@blogger.com