Re: Can't live without.

> Did the 12 headcount IT dept. ask you for a thorough course in APL?
> I guess NO, because they're rather envious than curious - the st......

LOL !
I'm sure that would be the last thing the IT-project manager wants ..
.... a headcount redcution from 12 to 1 !
;-)




BTW .. I am not doubting the abilities or competence of the good
(small) people working in these "teams",
 but inevitably, beaurocracy takes over .. the larger the group, the
bigger the beaurocracy !


Most of my "stories" about APL versus conventional IT ( beaurocracy &
politics ) are about just this.

In one case, an APL system was running for decades at a VERY large
customer.
A small APL team of 1-4 people did development and 24/7 suppport over
20 years+.
The system "evolved" slowly over the years to become a major factor in
the Co.'s P/L balance sheet (20% ca. of revenues).
The budget for the complete APL system was minimal ( hardware,
software, support, development etc. )
There were two key APLers that laid the basic building blocks .. the
very best APL system I've ever seen BTW !
The Customer wanted the team expanded to say at least 25 people... the
"we could all get run-over by a bus tomorrow" syndrome.
... but the APLers declined the offer ( actually a political mistake ).
During those 20+ years, literally 100's and later 1000's of millions
were spent by various "preachers" ( IT managers ) claiming up to 200 C+
+ and/or Java programmers + the management layers on top of course -
could do the job better.
After all, the revenues that the system generated had become THE most
lucrative ( and mission critical ) business area in the company.
The MANY attempts to replace the APL system make one of the best
comedies I have ever seen .. they should actually make a film about it
IMO !
A combination of management incompetence, jealousy, political
skullduggery and even outright lying !
One of the business managers actually asked : "is IT running this
company ? ", after signing-off yet another massive cheque for the next
year's budget.
LOOP:
Needless to say , many of those managers were eventually sacked ...
.... and then the next batch of "preacher managers" arrived !
EOLOOP:

PS:
APL doesn't really need "loops" !
;-)