Can you let us know how you get on?

RP

On 17/01/2008, Andre Abelian <aabelian@mason-electric.com> wrote:
> I just wanted to thank all of you for excellent suggestions and comments.
> If you see me outside walking and talking to myself then it means
> no thing changed. "just joking"
> I will see what I can do about it.
>
> thanks again
>
> Andre
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu]On Behalf
> Of M. Adam Davis
> Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:49 AM
> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> Subject: Re: [OT]:Software related question
>
>
> These two responses are essentially how I'd approach it, with some
> comments afterword:
>
> On 1/16/08, Paul Hutchinson <paullhutchinson@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > I would definitely talk to your manager about this from a
> > standards compliance standpoint.
>
> On 1/16/08, Eoin Ross <eross@chemstation.com> wrote:
> > My thinking is that there should be a revision
> > history/list/file/comment that shows EVERYONES name,
> > date, and details of what was done.
>
> I don't know the industry you are in, but TRACEABILITY and STANDARDS
> are key here.
>
> First, I'd assume that the code belongs to the company, and that the
> person in question is acting according to company policy.  Don't talk
> to anyone with the assumption that she's doing somethign wrong, or
> taking 'credit' for 'your work'.  This isn't your work - this is
> output you've exchanged for cash, and the company can do with it as it
> pleases.
>
> With that out of the way...
>
> I'd strike up a simple and quick conversation with my boss, something
> to the tune of,
>
> "[boss's name], I've noticed that when my source code is added to the
> production system (or whenever in the process the changes occur) that
> the comments containing traceability information, such as names,
> dates, code affected, is edited or removed.  I'm concerned that with
> this information gone, among other things, code maintenance would be
> more difficult, and traceability is lost.
>
> I'm curious about the company policy behind this, and whether I am
> still responsible for code that does not have my notes and comments."
>
> Then listen.  Don't talk about who does the changes, just talk about
> the effect and impact, and avoid making it sound as though you deserve
> 'credit'.
>
> Eventually, through conversation, they will either have to admit they
> don't want/need/have traceability, or that the process that's been
> occuring is not within company policy.
>
> But my suspicion is that things will keep going on as they have been,
> and your best bet is to book it out of there as soon as reasonable.
>
> If, however, you are a contract programmer, then it's possible that
> the person who changes your code a little bit, then drops their name
> on top while removing yours is simply following company procedure.  As
> a contract programmer you will not be available for future
> maintenance, and some companies (oddly) demand that an employee take
> responsibility for the code completely, and they enforce it by
> removing references to the original contract programmer so the
> employee can't fall back on, "Well shoot, it's what's his name's
> fault!".  It's silly in one respect - there's no guarantee that
> employee will be around either.
>
> At any rate, don't take it personally - it's just a job.
>
> -Adam
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