TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> May I question the underlying premise that the techwriter should learn a
> programming language?
To add to the points already made by another reply:
- Knowing a programming language (even the rudiments) makes you less
reliant on the coders. Your job is easier, and, in some cases, a source
of friction in the office is reduced.
- You can independently verify the information you receive.
- You widen your chances in the job market, especially for some of the
higher-paying jobs. Whether knowing a language is necessary for these
jobs is beside the point: the requirement is widely perceived as
necessary, so, in general, it is.
> I do think an understanding of the object-oriented programming approach is
> useful in most shops.
That depends on the shop. I'm intrigued by OO - what little I know of it
- but I've seen too many "waves of the future" to believe in every one
that comes along. If it is a new paradigm (and I meant that in the
strictest sense of the word, not as a buzzword), then, like any other
paradigm, it probably won't dominate until the last of the old school
dies off. By my estimate, that's at least two decades in the future :-)
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com
"You know there ain't no kind of dream without some kind of debt
And I don't wanna go to bed, ain't nothin' happened yet."
- The Mollys, "I Don't Wanna Go to Bed"
*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com
TECH*COMM 2001 Conference, July 15-18 in Washington, DC
The Help Technology Conference, August 21-24 in Boston, MA
Details and online registration at http://www.SolutionsEvents.com
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
