Confessions of a CoBOL programmer

In article <13uttm8t9e3sg82@corp.supernews.com>,
HeyBub <heybub@gmail.com> wrote:
>docdwarf@panix.com wrote: 
>
>Put it another way: "There is no shortage of  COBOL programmers; there's
>only a shortage of CHEAP COBOL programmers."

Or, to tie it into another portion of the thread... 'There is no shortage
of COBOL programmers, there is a shortage of COBOL programmers willing to
accept (wage)... and capable of turning out Good Work... and turning it
out Fast... and young... unmarried is nice, too... should we institute a
No Pets policy?'

DD

In article <07c41e08-dbff-452e-aa7e-c9abd2c9551e@u10g2000prn.googlegroups.co
m>,
Alistair  <alistair@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>On 28 Mar, 21:47, docdw...@panix.com () wrote: 
><ac5d2762-1789-4696-8918-8b00948bc...@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, 

[snip]
 
>
>I suspect that the Java programmers would walk out en masse if offered
>the opportunity to retrain.

Then it might be best if the order is not made en masse.  Consider what
might happen if a single Java-jockey gets made an offer... you can keep
doing what all the other coders are doing or you can take this course...
and if you pass it you get a bonus and a pay-rise, once you finish (n)
months of work with the COBOL team.

Training... money... and 'an end in sight'.  I believe that someone in the
crew would agree to it... and maybe others, once they see that the first
did not die or suffer grave disfigurement... and then...

... and then, (y) months after finishing (n) months with the COBOL team...
they get introduced to that wonderful Corporate Tradition of 'Well, you
touched it once, at one point, and we need it worked on again, now...'

DD

In article <a1e968be-0f15-489c-8074-7d5a795daf38@h11g2000prf.googlegroups.co
m>,
Alistair  <alistair@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>On 29 Mar, 01:13, docdw...@panix.com () wrote: 
><92694c30-327e-42b4-9026-3adcea8d0...@e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,

[snip]
 
>
>So it is down to t'web and not any edikashun you have been subjected
>to? I suppose answering an answer with a question is no question/
>answer either.

Questions and answers can alternate rather nicely, Mr Maclean... I've
studied a few things in a few places, some formally, some informally...
and they all have the same thing in common in that they all show me how
much more studying I would find to be pleasureable.  I've read, among
others, portions of Euclid, Plato, Aristotle, the Old and New Testaments,
La Rouchefoucauld, Moliere, Schiller, Mozart, Nietzsche, Darwin, Freud,
Maxwell, Einstein and a few others in the original... I'm not sure if
makes me to have been a student of geometry, philosophy, natural
philosophy (science), religion, more philosophy, drama, music, more
philosophy, science, psychology, electromagnetic theory or relativity.

But... what matters it what I've read?  Long ago I heard an aphorism,
'Some scholars are like donkeys, all they do is carry a load of books'...
and it struck me that one might carry such a load on one's back or between
one's ears.  If all one is doing is carrying... then it seems donkey-work
all the same.

DD

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:11:30 -0500, "HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote:

>docdwarf@panix.com wrote: 
>
>Put it another way: "There is no shortage of  COBOL programmers; there's
>only a shortage of CHEAP COBOL programmers."

Java and C# programmers cost more than Cobol programmers -- $60 vs. 45.

"HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:13uttm8t9e3sg82@corp.supernews.com...
> docdwarf@panix.com wrote: 
>
> Put it another way: "There is no shortage of  COBOL programmers; there's
> only a shortage of CHEAP COBOL programmers."


Nobody wants "cheap."

Everyone wants "inexpensive."

Unfortunately you often can't tell the difference until AFTER you buy.

MCM

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:25:59 -0600, Robert <no@e.mail> wrote:

>On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:11:30 -0500, "HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>
>Java and C# programmers cost more than Cobol programmers -- $60 vs. 45.

They're over-priced.

Regards,
////
(o o)
-oOO--(_)--OOo-

"He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings."
--  Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver,
on his coach, John Jenkins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remove nospam to email me.

Steve

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:05:53 -0700 (PDT), Alistair
<alistair@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>On 29 Mar, 00:12, billg...@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) wrote: 
>
>Nothing. 50 is a good age to be (just coming into my prime).

And 60 is prime!

Regards,
////
(o o)
-oOO--(_)--OOo-

"He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings."
--  Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver,
on his coach, John Jenkins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remove nospam to email me.

Steve

In article <4revu3d0j4v301in4js450l7ng7gdc85gn@4ax.com>, SkippyPB <swiegand@nospam.neo.rr.c
om> wrote:
>On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:05:53 -0700 (PDT), Alistair
><alistair@ld50macca.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> <ac5d2762-1789-4696-8918-8b00948bc...@s12g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, 
>
>And 60 is prime!

No, it's composite.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphag at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

SkippyPB wrote: 
>
> They're over-priced.
>
> Regards,

Not if you need flames. And smiley-faces that jump up and down.

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:47:46 +0000 (UTC), docdwarf@panix.com () wrote:
 
>
>Have they tried doubling their rates?  Have they offered programmers in
>other languages training in COBOL... with a bonus and pay-rise upon
>completion of the course so they don't get hired away?

A large reason that companies are switching from CoBOL is that they
can find already-trained programmers in other languages without
doubling their rates.

Money always enters in to the equation.