Comments on: The 6 Types of Software Engineers: Identification, Care and Feeding http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/ Product management and the ugly side of software product development. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:34:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Cranky tech writer http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-3579 Cranky tech writer Thu, 28 May 2009 03:34:19 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-3579 Spot on! I could visualize each "type" and match them with a real person from my actual work experience. Had a good laugh at "do the needful"! Spot on! I could visualize each “type” and match them with a real person from my actual work experience. Had a good laugh at “do the needful”!

]]> By: Mychalczuk http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-3553 Mychalczuk Fri, 15 May 2009 16:20:46 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-3553 This is the most accurrate assessment I have ever read on engineering. The fun part is when some of these then aspire to management. So get an ex maverick in a dev management postion, e.g. VP of engineering, and then you can really watch the fun :) Great Post, and the Clockwork Mouse should absolutely be added. We almost have an outline for a book here called "Species of the Software Development Jungle" This is the most accurrate assessment I have ever read on engineering. The fun part is when some of these then aspire to management. So get an ex maverick in a dev management postion, e.g. VP of engineering, and then you can really watch the fun :)

Great Post, and the Clockwork Mouse should absolutely be added. We almost have an outline for a book here called “Species of the Software Development Jungle”

]]> By: Thomas http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-3491 Thomas Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:24:12 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-3491 The types of engineers are maybe a bit exagerated, but in the end I really liked that post, because there is some truth in it! Btw. where is the "geek" type? The types of engineers are maybe a bit exagerated, but in the end I really liked that post, because there is some truth in it! Btw. where is the “geek” type?

]]> By: Zett http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-2703 Zett Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:38:05 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-2703 u made me smile this morning , thanks :-) the 'offshore' is mine, and the 'Best Bet' is exactly what we're doing now haha u made me smile this morning , thanks :-)

the ‘offshore’ is mine, and the ‘Best Bet’ is exactly what we’re doing now haha

]]> By: John McGeehan http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-1004 John McGeehan Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:10:23 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-1004 Wow. Just came across this and already it is in my development hall of fame! One tip for the manager of Eric's Clockwork Mouse: try this person in a QA position. I did and they flourished! Wow. Just came across this and already it is in my development hall of fame! One tip for the manager of Eric’s Clockwork Mouse: try this person in a QA position. I did and they flourished!

]]> By: Eric http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-914 Eric Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:27:47 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-914 I have another sub-type. The Clockwork Mouse This engineer type is unique from the others because it is often a female. The Clockwork Mouse works consistently, quietly, and diligently on any project, sub-project, or tiny little feature that is given to them. They are the perfect engineer to assign that boring file conversion job to. Distinguishing Characteristics Rarely leaves the safe haven of the cube. Must be forced to join meetings. People often ask how long that person has worked here when the Clockwork Mouse is seen outside the cube even if the Mouse has worked there longer than the person asking. Often talks with a very meek voice and is unwilling to contradict anybody even when they clearly know the right answer. Nobody knows what this engineer does on their personal time. Will consistently finish projects on time in the most bland manner as possible. Their sense of interface design is non-existent. The interface will either be horribly complex and confusing or so primitive as to make you wonder if if a C:\ prompt would be better. They often code something completely different than the specs because they are afraid to ask questions. Project Pitfalls You may not know this engineer is actually on your project Achilles Heal Any type of social interaction will cause so much stress that the Clockwork Mouse may blow a spring. Best Bet Assign non-interface related projects that are intricate, yet boring. The mouse will thrive in this environment. I have another sub-type.

The Clockwork Mouse
This engineer type is unique from the others because it is often a female. The Clockwork Mouse works consistently, quietly, and diligently on any project, sub-project, or tiny little feature that is given to them. They are the perfect engineer to assign that boring file conversion job to.

Distinguishing Characteristics
Rarely leaves the safe haven of the cube. Must be forced to join meetings.
People often ask how long that person has worked here when the Clockwork Mouse is seen outside the cube even if the Mouse has worked there longer than the person asking.
Often talks with a very meek voice and is unwilling to contradict anybody even when they clearly know the right answer.
Nobody knows what this engineer does on their personal time.
Will consistently finish projects on time in the most bland manner as possible.
Their sense of interface design is non-existent. The interface will either be horribly complex and confusing or so primitive as to make you wonder if if a C:\ prompt would be better.
They often code something completely different than the specs because they are afraid to ask questions.
Project Pitfalls
You may not know this engineer is actually on your project
Achilles Heal
Any type of social interaction will cause so much stress that the Clockwork Mouse may blow a spring.

Best Bet
Assign non-interface related projects that are intricate, yet boring. The mouse will thrive in this environment.

]]> By: Scrum THIS | The Cranky Product Manager http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-885 Scrum THIS | The Cranky Product Manager Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:18:39 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-885 [...] tethered to a communal table in a stifling hot “War Room,” inhaling the body odor of The Veteran, trying to tune-out the grandstanding arguments between two nimrod Hotshots (“My idea is [...] [...] tethered to a communal table in a stifling hot “War Room,” inhaling the body odor of The Veteran, trying to tune-out the grandstanding arguments between two nimrod Hotshots (“My idea is [...]

]]> By: Any Cartoonists Out There? | The Cranky Product Manager http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-883 Any Cartoonists Out There? | The Cranky Product Manager Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:35:48 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-883 [...] so, maybe you could whip up a drawing of each of the "The 6 Types of Engineers" that could accompany the post of the same [...] [...] so, maybe you could whip up a drawing of each of the "The 6 Types of Engineers" that could accompany the post of the same [...]

]]> By: Top 10 Reasons Why the Cranky Product Manager Would Make a Good Vice Presidential Candidate | The Cranky Product Manager http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-875 Top 10 Reasons Why the Cranky Product Manager Would Make a Good Vice Presidential Candidate | The Cranky Product Manager Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:14:25 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-875 [...] revenue quarter over quarter, for her stock options to be worth something again one day, for the Teflon-gineer to be kept off her product, [...] [...] revenue quarter over quarter, for her stock options to be worth something again one day, for the Teflon-gineer to be kept off her product, [...]

]]> By: A Reader Responds to “Six Types of Engineers” | The Cranky Product Manager http://crankypm.com/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/comment-page-1/#comment-869 A Reader Responds to “Six Types of Engineers” | The Cranky Product Manager Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:42:45 +0000 http://crankypm.com/crankypm/2008/08/the-6-types-of-software-engineers-identification-care-and-feeding/#comment-869 [...] the Cranky Product Manager found this awesome comment on the “Six Types of Engineers” post. “From a programmer’s point of view, I [...] [...] the Cranky Product Manager found this awesome comment on the “Six Types of Engineers” post. “From a programmer’s point of view, I [...]

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