Typically I save this type of rant for backyard bitch sessions. But, I thought for once I'd bitch in a public forum and see how many people said I'm just completely nuts.

Here is my new theory "Whiteboard Theory":
No matter how large or small the whiteboard in question people will only utilize it to display the same general amount of information (IE: 10 lines of text on a 4x8' or 10 lines on a 2x2').

I've had this theory for a very long time, in fact my father tells me I noticed it when I was very small on the job sites. I noticed (when I was younger) that no matter how large the witeboards were in the trailers (yes, I'm a construction brat) the Foremen, Supers, and etc would really only utilize it to display the same general amount of information.

For me, at the time, a larger board meant a larger picture. For them, a larger board meant to write in LARGER LETTERS (yes, typically they would use all caps on a larger board, odd isn't it). I've also noticed this to stay true all the way to today where large wall boards are utilized to display the same information that appears on a small cubical wall board.


Anyways, my point as it pertains to development. I've been interested in some side work, and pursued a few options to see where they would go. Recently I lost (or at least I think I lost) one of these opportunities to another developer who's work I've had to cleanup in not 1 but 3 companies (that part doesn't matter at all by the way). When you Google him with relations to Delphi or Pascal you get back 2 pages of content mainly stating things as follows: "In the present days of dual core 3ghz the only service you provide by taking steps like this [he is discussing optimization by the way] is a disservice to your employer."

Since when, as a developer, has it become acceptable to be complacent due to our hardware? Every day I'm amazed at how much more I can do with modern hardware, but that doesn't stop me from trying to get every last ounce of power out of it. Yes, there is optimizing to the extreme (something I've been accused and admit to at times), but there is also common sense optimization. If you can get a bump in speed, and retain readability, by dropping to "old school" methods why not?

In fact, I'd say that by taking the approach of More Power = Less Responsibility your doing the biggest disservice to your employer. When and WHY did it become acceptable to apply Whiteboard Theory to development

I may be the old guy on the porch screaming "Get off my LAWN!" But I for one still think we should try and get more from our hardware than less. I'm not saying that we should push graphical limits in business applications, but 100 more records a second is 100 more records a second. Add this up over time and you will find any MBA will agree with me (LOL).

- Jeremy

PS: I've already told the company that when he gets done I'll be happy to make the app usable again for only twice my typical rate, its my "We didn't do our research" discount.