Sunday, August 15, 2010

Event Management and Java programmers

Question: Why is it a good idea to hire a Java programmer over someone with direct Netcool experience for a Netcool specific job?

I recently heard about an open position for a Netcool specialist where they opened up the position to be more of a Java programmer slot. In part, I think its a lack of understanding regarding supporting Netcool and understanding what it takes, domain knowledge wise, to be successful at it.

Most Java programmers either want to do some SOA sort of thing, Jakarta and struts, Spring Framework, Tomcat / Jboss or some portal rehash sort of thing. Most of these technologies have little to do with Netcool and rules. In fact, the lack of domain knowledge around the behavior of Network and systems devices in specific failure induced conditions, may limit a true Java programmers ability to be successful without significant training and exposure over time.

Here is the ugly truth:

1. Not every problem can be adequately or most effectively solved with Object Oriented Programming. Some things are done much more efficiently in Turing machines or Finite State automata.

2. You give away resources in OO to empower some level of portability and reuse. If your problem is linear and pretty static, why give away resources?

3. With Oracle suing Google of copywrite enfringement over the use of Java, Java may be career limiting. I mean, if Oracle is willing to initiate a lawsuit with Google which has the resources to handle such a lawsuit, how much more will it be willing to sue companies of significantly less legal resources?

So, unless you plan on rewriting Netcool in Java, I'd say this repositioning is a pretty limiting move. And if you were foolish enough to think this is even close to being cost effective, I'd pretty much say that as a Manager, you are dangerous to your company and share holders.

1 comment:

  1. "With Oracle suing Google of copywrite enfringement over the use of Java"

    Oracle is NOT suing Google over the use of Java. Google has created its own JVM replicating functionality of Sun JVM for mobile devices to get around Sun's licensing of Java on mobile devices.
    There is nothing here about suing someone for using Java. Hate to say this but implying that you should not use Java because you may get used comes off as FUD

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