|
Sponsored Links
Resources
.NET Research Library
Get .NET related white papers, case studies and webcasts
|
Blogs
Blogs
Blogs
|
Messages: 0
Messages: 0
Messages: 0
Printer friendly
Printer friendly
Printer friendly
Post reply
Post reply
Post reply
XML
XML
XML
|
 |
Fowler’s Future of Microsoft, or Alpha Geeks need not apply
By Jack Vaughan
A thoughtful and proactive piece making the blog rounds discusses whether Microsoft’s development organization has perhaps lost its mojo, or, in the words of Developer Extraordinaire Martin Fowler, whether there is not a “sense of real disillusionment amongst people who have been long-time Microsoft supporters.”
Fowler is the author of Refactoring [Addison Wesley], which is due for a new printing this month. Fowler focuses on the recent murmurings about Microsoft’s Iron Ruby CLR language support. In his blog, Fowler highlights some of the issues that Microsoft has had with open source in the recent past, and wonders if Ruby, which is open source, will become an area of détente or battle.
Some impetus to this discussion comes our of the recent Portland Ruby RailsConf2007 event where Iron Python was a focus of chatter. According to blogger-and-Ruby-community figure Ola Bini, the Microsoft Ruby effort is welcome – but Bini doubts that the MS group led by John Lam can actually create a compliant Ruby implementation without looking at the source code of the MRI [Matz’s Ruby Interpreter]. [There has been word about that Microsoft is working with a licensed version of Ruby produced by Garden’s Point.]
In his post, Fowler said Microsoft should seize the moment of Iron Ruby as an opportunity. This work, he wrote, can serve as an example of how Microsoft can collaborate with a community that is centered on openness and agility.
He goes on to make other points: That there has been a big move away from .NET; the general view of the Microsoft technologies is a loud yawn, and that ‘alpha geeks’ have less of a home now in the Microsoft development environment. He writes:Microsoft doesn't like to acknowledge this in public, but there is a real concern that AlphaGeeks are moving away from the Microsoft platform. There's a growing sense that Microsoft's vision is armies of Morts in command-and-control organizations. There often seems to be outright discouragement of tools to enable talented enterprise developers, or of agile development processes. Whew! The response from the .NET blogosphere has been considerable, as it should be. Fowler has generally been a fair observer, and a very telling one. He has taken part in efforts to bring Agile programming to .NET. It does seem the case that Agile programming is lacking a step in the Microsoft world. But AlphaGeek? Isn’t that a judgment call?
“Ruby is a community where open source, agile thinking, and lightweight solutions are deeply ingrained values,” he writes. That may be true. But it is still a too-broad statement and a judgment call in itself. Wouldn’t the prototypical AlphaGeek be getting off the Ruby bandwagon pretty soon now? Doesn’t that .NET community have some pretty real ingrained values of its own?
Related
Ruby Microsoft - Martin Fowler blog
Refactoring, 2007 on AW Safari site
More
Fowler's blog post has ignited plenty of commentary. Just a small sampling follows...
There can be only one, a tale about Ruby, IronRuby , MS and whatnot – Ola Bini blog
Martin Fowler wants to see Ruby on Microsoft to save the alpha geek – Nick Malik blog
Shaking out the Innovation - Peter Laudati's GotDotNet blog
A Lack of Enthusiasm in the Microsoft World? – Rockfor Lhotka blog
Microsoft and I – John Lam blog
MS at the Crossroads - Sam Gentile blog on CodeBetter.com
|
|
|
| Featured SectionFeatured SectionFeatured Section |
|
|
|
|
| Weekly Blogs UpdateWeekly Blogs UpdateWeekly Blogs Update |
|
|
|
|
| Extra ContentExtra ContentExtra Content |
|
|
TheServerSide.NET Site Editor Jack Vaughan reviews highlights and sidelights from the world of Microsoft software development.
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is a new client user interface technology that ships as part of .NET 3.0.
(November 2, Article)
Opening up the SDLC to non-engineers requires re-examination of processes and clarification of roles, according to Burton Group's Chris Howard.
(November 20, Article)
These chapters explain the quirks behind the user interface design of Windows and the complexity of GetWindowText.
(November 9, Book Excerpt)
When it is time for a keynote, the crew at Redmond is ready. But words don't always flow. Today we take you behind the scenes for a look at great speeches in the making. Come with us now to Microsoft Speechwriters' Headquarters. Cool!
(December 18, Cartoon)
|
|
