What do you think made this guy a good developer. I'm the first real IS type person the place I'm at has ever hired. The guy I work with came from a technical school. So I find his background sorely lacking.

I've had a problem in the past trying to bring other folk up to speed in programming. I find it almost impossible to train someone if they are neither a 'programmer' in another language or a 'developer'. However, if someone has a decent 'development' background, it becomes much easier, as their methodology is sound. They just lack the knowledge of how to fit VFP for example, into their methodology.

I'm trying to figure out how to point the guy I'm working with in the right direction to help him bring his level of knowledge up to speed.

PF

>I disagree here. I've been a 'programmer' for 17 years and a 'developer' for about 5 years. I had one member of my staff in my previous job who had recently left University and been a 'developer' for just over one year. He was easily as good as me and much better in some areas. He agreed that he lacked the xBase experience that I had but as for the development aspect, he was hot!
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>There is absolutely no time based rules that anybody can come up with as to how long you need to be programming or developing or anything else before you can be classed as a good 'developer'. I give talks to user groups, some of the people in the audience have been around much longer than myself!
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>>I'll take a different 'angle' from the rest Martin. If you're talking about strictly a 'programmer' and not a 'developer' then after a couple of good years of learning the style and discipline of coding a person *could* be a good programmer. Becomming a 'developer' takes a bit longer because experience takes time. I'd say a minimum of 7 years experience in general business and maybe 2-3 years experience in a specific field could make you a good developer.
>>Programming and Developing are very different and are often confused.
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>>I started 'programming' at 14 (remember the Commodore PET and 64?) and started 'developing' at 20. I'm still trying to get good at both. ;-)
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>>Good luck and keep asking questions!
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>>- A Hilton