With all of this talk lately (from the .Net crowd) about ALT.NET… I think I have to say that it’s all in good if you live entirely in a Microsoft ecosystem… but I don’t. It still has that mainly .Net feel to it, which I can’t live with…
Here’s my new classification: ALT.Developer
The manifesto:
- I will always get my work done the best way that I know how.
- I will always make conscious choices about the software and platforms I use, to best suite the solution to a problem, while understanding that myself and the solution has to be agile and can change.
- I will always enjoy writing software with the platforms that I choose.
- I will always be pragmatic.
- I will always be scientific with my software creation. Testing, hypothesizing, sharing information, and keeping in mind that my theories / solutions could be proven wrong.
- I will always share the thoughts and ideas I have with younger developers looking for more knowledge and with colleagues looking to validate their ideas.
- I will always love you… Whitney Houston ladies and gentlemen
Now, I don’t expect this to pick up as much as ALT.Net… and in fact, I’m quite certain that people like @sbellware and @chadmyers are going to laugh in their comfy chairs sipping lattes… if they even get around to reading it, but for those out there who are passionate about software development… Make up your own classification and manifesto! Be creative… stick to it and love what you do!
Good points. I agree. That said there is a reason for the .NET part of ALT.NET. Let’s examine:
http://infozerk.com/averyblog/how-long-before-alt-net-becomes-not-net/
Someone wrote something about ALT.DEV before in this vein. Can’t find it, wish I could.
Look at your point:
Is it possible to do that as a .NET developer? I’d argue no. Not right now anyway. The reason it’s ALT.NET right now is that the .NET ecosystem has a) smart people but b) a way to go. The fact of the matter is that Microsoft has a big chunk of enterprise development and it’s well time that was fun and hit the points you make above.
So that gives us a .NET context…
aside from picking the platform Jake, you’re preaching to the choir brother. Everything else you say is about passion for software development and passion for doing software well. That’s what alt.net is about 100%, just in the context of the CLR (which includes some great languages other than c# and vb.net now)
I’m going to hate on this label. It sounds like an apology for using Microsoft products. Don’t be ashamed to call yourself a .NET developer. PC World magazine says it’s the way to go.
@Dave - I would agree that it’s not possible to enjoy writing software in the .Net ecosystem right now… There are lots of smart people and I think that it’s money that’s driving it… I think that ALT.Net with the .Net context is great! In fact, if I were still a primary .Net developer I’d push myself even harder to be involved in the space… At any rate, I think that ALT.NET is going to change things (for the better) and I’ll definitely be keeping up on that.
@Scott - I know that I took it up another 5000 ft and I like the .Net context because it makes things more focused… I just can’t buy into it :)
@Lee - Right on brother!
Huh?