Some Reasons Why Computer Programmers Are Hard To Find
There seems to be growing concerns over an apparent shortage of computer programmers. Whether this is a serious problem or not is arguable, but it is one of the computer industry’s own making. Here’s a case that any shortage is artificial.
What Is A Programmer?
If programming means the writing of computer code that performs a particular function, then programmers are, in essence, translators of requirements expressed in one form into another form that computers can ‘process’, thereby generating an output that is a realization of those requirements.
The measure of a programmer’s ability to do this is directly related to their analytical and deductive skill level, about which there are two opposing views: The generalist versus the specialist.
Eric Sink makes a somewhat tongue in cheek case that good programmers have a background in C computer language (arguably the closest to a universal programming language as we’ve had so far), proficiency of which requires discipline, attention to detail, and rational mastery which provides a good basis for grasping other computer related concepts. This suggests a generalist approach to programming, leaving the softer or creative side of the business to be handled elsewhere in the division of labor.
In a different vein, Neil McAllister worries about a shortage of web developers specifically, primarily due to the proliferation of new, and not always improved, languages, tools and infrastructures, related to the development and management of software based products and systems, many with little or nothing in common. One cause of this is the open source movement, which effectively eliminates any barrier to new entrants, regardless of size or resources. This suggests increasing specialization, with the attendant risk of isolation and fragmentation.
A Matter Of Incentives
Whether there is a shortage of programmers depends entirely on who is doing the looking and hiring. This breaks down into one of four categories.
Large Companies Highly risk adverse. Focus on predictability. Concerned with immediate results within an industrial assembly line context. Stays with mainstream tools even if they demonstrate low productivity. Only interested in programmers with specific and recent experience with the authorized corporate development environment. Will consider generalists with H1B visas if available at wholesale rates.
Small Companies More often concerned with survival. Programmers must have specific and recent experience with a particular free open source production environment. Tend to use craigslist for recruiting.
Recruiters Reflections of their clients. Fast paced with high turnover. More interested in recurring revenue than value quality. Tend to view programmers as a highly perishable commodity.
Independent Software Vendors Tend to be small companies that see generalists as assets. Often build their own tools. Work with a wide range of development environments. Quick to adapt to heterogeneous infrastructures. Innovation drivers. Often contracted by large companies as a skunk works.
Conclusion
Although most programmers can adapt to, and become proficient in, whatever programming environment they have to work with, the odds are that any hiring decision will be based on recent experience and proficiency and not on an overall body of work. This will tend to accelerate as the proliferation of programming languages, development tools and application frameworks continues to expand, which is another way of saying forever.
Tags: programmers, skill shortage