Apprenticeships on Open Source
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The document discusses the benefits of apprenticeships for software development. It notes that while there is currently a glut of developers, there is a shortage of highly skilled ones. It proposes that companies hire an experienced craftsman to mentor 1-2 apprentices, arguing this will be cheaper than hiring mid-level developers and the apprentices will quickly surpass them in skills. It provides tips for setting up successful apprenticeship programs that benefit both the company and apprentice.
Apprenticeships on Open Source
- 1. Apprenticeships on Open Source OSCON 2008 Dave Hoover, Obtiva, Chicago Brian Tatnall, Stark Investments, Chicago
- 3. Disclaimer!
- 4. Disclaimer! This talk is based on our experiences
- 5. Disclaimer! This talk is based on our experiences We'd love to hear about yours!
- 7. What's Your Problem? You need talented, experienced people
- 8. What's Your Problem? You need talented, experienced people But you can't find enough of them
- 10. What's Your Problem? You need experience to get a job
- 11. What's Your Problem? You need experience to get a job But that's a Catch-22
- 13. What's Our Problem? We have a disconnect between demand for quality people and our ability to find these people
- 14. What's Our Problem? We have a disconnect between our desire to become top-notch developers and our ability to reach that level
- 16. Glut and Shortage We can take the time needed to nurture apprentice developers because we are faced with the problem of abundance, rather than scarcity... Today we have more developers than needed, but we have a shortage of good developers. Pete McBreen, Software Craftsmanship , Chapter 12
- 17. Root of the Problem
- 18. Root of the Problem
- 19. Root of the Problem Instant Gratification
- 20. Root of the Problem We want to hire a known quantity
- 21. Root of the Problem We want to hire a known quantity Rather than develop one
- 22. Root of the Problem
- 23. Root of the Problem We want to make as much money as we can right now
- 24. Root of the Problem We want to make as much money as we can right now Rather than set ourselves up for the long-term
- 26. A Related Problem I just spent 4 years paying to learn computer science
- 27. A Related Problem I just spent 4 years paying to learn computer science Now it's time to get paid
- 28. A Related Problem I just spent 4 years paying to learn computer science
- 29. A Related Problem I just spent 4 years paying to learn computer science Don't ask me to spend my free time learning another language
- 31. An Interesting Problem I'm a philosophy major turned programmer
- 32. An Interesting Problem I'm a philosophy major turned programmer I assume I will be learning languages on my own time
- 33. Wha?
- 34. Wha? How does a philospher become a programmer?
- 35. Hmm...
- 36. Open Source FTW!
- 37. Open Source FTW! Free Software
- 38. Open Source FTW! Free Software + Web Search
- 39. Open Source FTW! Free Software + Web Search + Books
- 40. Open Source FTW! Free Software + Web Search + Books + Online Communities
- 41. Open Source FTW! Free Software + Web Search + Books + Online Communities + User Groups
- 42. Open Source FTW! Free Software = Perl Web Search = Google Books = Camel Online Communities = perlmonks.org User Groups = chicago.pm
- 43. ==
- 44. Novice-level knowledge is cheap to acquire
- 45. Novice-level knowledge is cheap to acquire (like $30)
- 46. Novice-level knowledge is cheap to acquire But what does that get us?
- 47. Opportunity
- 48. Hire an established craftsman Opportunity
- 49. Hire an established craftsman Then hire for potential over credential Opportunity
- 50. A key task for all master software craftsmen is taking apprentices and journeymen under their wing and providing an environment in which they can practice their craft. Pete McBreen, Software Craftsmanship , Chapter 11 Opportunity
- 51. Don't Feed the Glut
- 52. You could hire 4 mid-level developers Don't Feed the Glut
- 53. You could hire 4 mid-level developers And send them each to a 4 day training Don't Feed the Glut
- 54. ||
- 55. You could hire 1 craftsman Solve the Shortage
- 56. You could hire 1 craftsman (who makes more than you, but makes you look like a superstar) Solve the Shortage
- 57. You could hire 1 craftsman (who makes more than you, but makes you look like a superstar) and 2 apprentices Solve the Shortage
- 58. You could hire 1 craftsman (who makes more than you, but makes you look like a superstar) and 2 apprentices And watch the apprentices quickly surpass your old mid-level developers Solve the Shortage
- 59. But, where do apprentices come from?
- 60. Stories
- 61. Dave, a psychologist Stories
- 62. Dave, a psychologist Brian, a theologist Stories
- 63. Dave, a psychologist Brian, a theologist Nate, a young hacker Stories
- 64. Dave, a psychologist Brian, a theologist Nate, a young hacker Fred, a philosopher Stories
- 65. Dave, a psychologist Brian, a theologist Nate, a young hacker Fred, a philosopher Jake, a physics teacher Stories
- 66. Are we anti-CS grad?
- 67. Absolutely not Are we anti-CS grad?
- 68. Absolutely not They just need the right attitude Are we anti-CS grad?
- 69. Absolutely not Are we anti-CS grad?
- 70. Absolutely not But they might be (or have been) anti-apprenticeship Are we anti-CS grad?
- 72. But quickly stop being cheap Apprentices are Cheap
- 73. But quickly stop being cheap If all goes well Apprentices are Cheap
- 75. They are getting paid to learn Apprentices are Expensive
- 76. They are getting paid to learn They take time and money to ramp up Apprentices are Expensive
- 78. They can do the work of 3-4 mid-level programmers Craftsmen are Cheap
- 79. They can do the work of 3-4 mid-level programmers For the price of 2 mid-level programmers Craftsmen are Cheap
- 81. Craftsmen are Expensive At the price of 2 mid-level programmers
- 82. Craftsmen are Expensive At the price of 2 mid-level programmers They might get paid more than their manager...
- 85. The Business Case 1 Craftsman + 2 Apprentices
- 86. The Business Case 1 Craftsman + 2 Apprentices Costs 3 mid-level programmers
- 87. The Business Case 1 Craftsman + 2 Apprentices
- 88. The Business Case 1 Craftsman + 2 Apprentices Will soon outperform 3 mid-level programmers
- 90. Successful Apprenticeships Profit the company
- 91. Successful Apprenticeships Profit the company While increasing the apprentice's market value
- 92. The Setup
- 93. The Setup An experienced, passionate developer
- 94. The Setup An experienced, passionate developer Interested in mentoring
- 95. The Setup
- 96. The Setup An enthusiastic, knowledge sponge
- 97. The Setup An enthusiastic, knowledge sponge Willing to give up some pay in the short-term for long-term opportunity
- 99. Potential vs. Credential You're going to learn about their strengths as you go
- 100. Potential vs. Credential You're going to learn about their strengths as you go Not a good fit for specialization, you need flexibility
- 102. Cultivate the Culture Value learning over competence
- 103. Cultivate the Culture Value learning over competence Craftsman models lifelong learning
- 105. Cultivate the Culture Inherit from Open Source culture
- 106. Cultivate the Culture Inherit from Open Source culture Transparency and Testing
- 108. Cultivate the Culture Without a master craftsman
- 109. Cultivate the Culture Without a master craftsman You need a strong network of journeymen
- 110. First Steps
- 111. First Steps
- 112. First Steps 2 kings, 1 pawn
- 113. First Steps 2 kings, 1 pawn Beware of the firehose
- 114. First Steps
- 115. First Steps Be the worst
- 116. First Steps Be the worst Don't stagnate
- 117. Q & A & D
- 118. Credits / References Mary Treseler from O'Reilly My Book http://softwarecraftsmanship.oreilly.com McBreen's book http://mcbreen.ab.ca/SoftwareCraftsmanship Photos (mostly) from Flickr Slides from http://280slides.com