So you want to...

So you want to write better software? That is if you are a developer.  And if you are a developer you tend to write software for others to use.  Sure you use it for a little bit for testing and making sure it works, but once you hand it over, you are done with it.

So the software you write is used by others and they like and dislike it and most of all accept it as what is available.  And did you know they hold on to every comment you make about the software and what it does like gospel? 

Is your software great, good, or just answers business requirements?

So you want to write better software?  Write some for yourself.  For your use.  To do your things.  To do something that was once manual and tedious but can now be quick and agile.  Writing software for your use will uncover design and development nuances that are not in your current work.  This process will lead you to better software.

So you want to write better software?  Get busy and write some for you first.

-M

If I could pick one word...

If I could pick one word that is omitted from the IBM System i world that is sorely needed it would be the word deprecated. Backwards compatible is only as valuable if the value of forward moving over forward innovation is at least twice as great.

By not deprecating code, techniques, and styles, the development world of the System i (formerly the AS/400 - iSeries) has remained mostly in a zombie like stage while only a few brave souls move forward and define modern RPG and System i based development.  Punch cards are a novelty and a Smithsonian exhibit.  Stop programming like these are still in use, but that is if you were made to stop, because what you are doing is deprecated and it won't compile anymore.  That would mean that you have to learn something new to get around that brick wall.  Then you join the force of developers who are in the "now" and moving software forward with the times and hopefully ahead of the times.

-M