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Abstract

called procedures) will not work and a section of the code must be rewritten.</p><p id="ff23">There are too many parts to a software solution. You must make sure all software components are compatible. Many developers I know go through issues when a framework changes, and they must then make sure other parts of the system work together.</p><h2 id="1085">This is mostly a newer problem</h2><p id="7415">I know everyone will have a problem when I say, “In the old days…”. But it is true as the environments were more stable and did not keep changing all the time. You have Unix, IBM OS, HP MPEX, etc., and these were on the mainframe computers.</p><p id="6789">The languages were also stable and tried and true over the years. If there was a release, it would be a few years in the making. Then nothing would change for a long time.</p><h2 id="cfc5">Where it begins</h2><p id="b819">I know developers will have a problem with me saying that it starts with the coders. Developers do not spend enough time with unit testing while they create the code. They will feel it is the testing department that will validate the coding.</p><p id="8219">I have been through this when I was a “back end” developer. The web development group would just code and release the software. Our Q/C department would inform them of an error in the code. They would say it must be an issue with the mainframe. Now the mainframe software has been stable for months or years, and the website code just changed. What do you think you would research first? I got tired of proving the web code was feeding bad data to the mainframe.</p><p id="15c1">I do not see why there are all the misspellings on the website pages. There are many grammar/spelling software packages out there. I am a small creator of documents compared to huge companies. I run two spelling and grammar packages against my articles in case one misses an error. Are the workers too complacent in their jobs to do a thorough jo

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b?</p><h2 id="5e12">Understanding the business</h2><p id="28ad">For mainframe developers, you not only had to know the language and the hardware, but you also had to know the business. Besides being software developers, we were business analysts. You needed the “analyst” part on your resume to have a company want to interview you. I do not see that in much of today’s crop of developers.</p><p id="958b">I hope that new developers take some of the words above to heart and go beyond being just a “coder.” Become a Programmer/Analyst. Overall, you will benefit in years to come.</p><blockquote id="c5f2"><p>If you liked this story and would like to read a few more developer stories I have written, click on the titles below. I hope you enjoy them.</p></blockquote><div id="6a71" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/an-old-programmer-loses-his-job-caa4670f34dc"> <div> <div> <h2>An Old Programmer Loses His Job</h2> <div><h3>I am an I.T. professional — How could this happen?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*_DisLV8MftYFF0EHIrvbYw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="9b74" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/cobol-the-misunderstood-language-cb02cca0cee6"> <div> <div> <h2>COBOL — The Misunderstood Language</h2> <div><h3>COBOL is not just for seniors anymore</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*fwYZ64Ehrf-S57tiiQJVRw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Is Software Development Getting Worse?

Websites seem to be crashing more and not working correctly

This is not an attack on current developers, but rather a hope that will have developers improve themselves and make them more desirable to employers.

More frequently, the websites and apps I use seem to crash at times. Or the websites just do not work. I fill in the forms as requested and it comes back with an error, or just sits there. A minor issue with websites is all the misspellings and cut-off sentences that I see.

Where are the Testing or Quality Control (Q/C) Departments?

With all the tools out there for software companies to use, there should be no excuse for this. There are two main testing procedures: manual and automation testing. Manual is as it sounds, where a person will test the app or website by typing in the data. Automation is performed by a specialized software program that you add the data to be entered in a screen, and then you run the app or website. The software fills in the data just as if a person is typing it in. This is good for companies testing order entry, shipping, etc.

Various parts of the problem

There are so many languages out there that keep changing over short periods. You only have a certain amount of people that know the language. Most developers now do not have years of experience yet.

There are too many versions of the software released. Many times, the components of the language (such as functions or called procedures) will not work and a section of the code must be rewritten.

There are too many parts to a software solution. You must make sure all software components are compatible. Many developers I know go through issues when a framework changes, and they must then make sure other parts of the system work together.

This is mostly a newer problem

I know everyone will have a problem when I say, “In the old days…”. But it is true as the environments were more stable and did not keep changing all the time. You have Unix, IBM OS, HP MPEX, etc., and these were on the mainframe computers.

The languages were also stable and tried and true over the years. If there was a release, it would be a few years in the making. Then nothing would change for a long time.

Where it begins

I know developers will have a problem with me saying that it starts with the coders. Developers do not spend enough time with unit testing while they create the code. They will feel it is the testing department that will validate the coding.

I have been through this when I was a “back end” developer. The web development group would just code and release the software. Our Q/C department would inform them of an error in the code. They would say it must be an issue with the mainframe. Now the mainframe software has been stable for months or years, and the website code just changed. What do you think you would research first? I got tired of proving the web code was feeding bad data to the mainframe.

I do not see why there are all the misspellings on the website pages. There are many grammar/spelling software packages out there. I am a small creator of documents compared to huge companies. I run two spelling and grammar packages against my articles in case one misses an error. Are the workers too complacent in their jobs to do a thorough job?

Understanding the business

For mainframe developers, you not only had to know the language and the hardware, but you also had to know the business. Besides being software developers, we were business analysts. You needed the “analyst” part on your resume to have a company want to interview you. I do not see that in much of today’s crop of developers.

I hope that new developers take some of the words above to heart and go beyond being just a “coder.” Become a Programmer/Analyst. Overall, you will benefit in years to come.

If you liked this story and would like to read a few more developer stories I have written, click on the titles below. I hope you enjoy them.