Absolutely agree. I work with a "duct tape" programmer and you couldn't pay me enough to touch his code. I'm so sick of someone asking me what's going on with RelayHandler's mda function and what do the variables "a", "sb", and "c" stand for? I kid you not... I don't always agree with Joel and this is one of those times where I absolutely do not agree. Duct tape programmers can stay the hell away from me.
He talks in his analogy of people who haven't taken off in their go-cart and are discussing design issues, and the people who took off and are fixing things with duct tape. There's a big difference between what I would call a "duct tape programmer" and someone who happens to keep a roll of duct tape handy. The former will run that duct-taped system in the next race, and will keep adding duct tape as problems arise. The latter will run the race, but then tear of the duct tape and look at why cart needed duct tape anyway and will then start debating design changes to get it to work better next time.
I think "duct tape programmer" should be derogatory, while "practical programmer" or "pragmatic programmer" would be more apt for Joel's idols.
Comments
Absolutely agree. I work with a "duct tape" programmer and you couldn't pay me enough to touch his code. I'm so sick of someone asking me what's going on with RelayHandler's mda function and what do the variables "a", "sb", and "c" stand for? I kid you not... I don't always agree with Joel and this is one of those times where I absolutely do not agree. Duct tape programmers can stay the hell away from me.
He talks in his analogy of people who haven't taken off in their go-cart and are discussing design issues, and the people who took off and are fixing things with duct tape. There's a big difference between what I would call a "duct tape programmer" and someone who happens to keep a roll of duct tape handy. The former will run that duct-taped system in the next race, and will keep adding duct tape as problems arise. The latter will run the race, but then tear of the duct tape and look at why cart needed duct tape anyway and will then start debating design changes to get it to work better next time.
I think "duct tape programmer" should be derogatory, while "practical programmer" or "pragmatic programmer" would be more apt for Joel's idols.