Reed Me : office

It’s been real and it’s been fun...

reedme — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:23:35 GMT

I’ve really enjoyed my ~3.5 years here at Microsoft, especially the last year and a quarter inside SQL Server. Microsoft’s a great company that really takes good care of its employees and their families.

It’s with some sadness that I leave all my friends in Building 35 next week (and some of y’all over in Building 34, too -- heh), especially with all the cool stuff coming soon with Kilimanjaro. I’ve learned a lot from y’all. Katmai was a definitely a fun climb (even though I missed the first two years)!

To whomever takes over my job, here’s one article I wish I would’ve rediscovered and reread a year ago: How to be a program manager (Joel on Software)

I’m not going far, though. You’d think that Building 36 would be right next door, but... it’s not. You’ll have to walk a little bit further up the street past the convention center, but we can still do lunch from time to time. Office looks to a cool place to play as an architect, and I’m looking forward to the work!

Since I’m heading back into the wonderful world of operations, you’ll still get the occasional SQL Server bit from me, and I’ll probably mix in some SCOM, since that looks to be the first big project.

This week, I’m wrapping up my contributions to Samples Refresh 2 and working on transition planning for whoever takes over the samples reins next in SQL Server.

Can you tell a great architect from a bad one?

reedme — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:24:38 GMT

Since I'm going to be sitting as a panel member on an MCA review board soon, I'd like to think I can, but apparently some researchers are having trouble...

Highly capable designers have an incentive to choose somewhat more difficult designs to better prove their talent, while less-capable designers have an incentive to choose highly difficult designs to obfuscate their lack of talent, Prof. Siemsen concludes.
Software Designers Strut Their Talent At Cost Of Profit, Says Study

This doesn't even get into the real reasons (Second System Syndrome™, Perfect System Syndrome™, Repeat Business Syndrome™, etc)... It seems to lay the blame at the feet of career concerns, but I'm not entirely sure that's the whole picture, especially when consultants get involved.

Irreducible complexity does exist, but if it seems Too Complicated™, it probably is, and you're probably Doing It Wrong™.

Great architects do The Right Thing™ for their companies or clients: a design that's as simple as possible, and no simpler.

Consultants: You'll never run out of repeat business from satisfied customers if you leave them with something that does what they need AND that they can maintain themselves. I always used to announce during project kick-off meetings, "I am leaving in X days/months/weeks. One of my goals is that you be able to absorb and maintain the deliverables that I'm leaving behind, so if it doesn't compute while we're working together, ASK me to explain it and WRITE down the answers so that you can retain the knowledge for your company."

Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler...

reedme — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:56:40 GMT

Being the sweet, considerate guy that he is, Steve Jones sent me an email to remind me of a couple of important things last Friday when he found out that my office was being moved into the basement (of Building 35).

Not necessarily in order of importance, those were:

Always know where your red stapler is.
Get your TPS reports in on time.
Make sure that you're still getting paid.

Thanks for the reminders, Steve. You have no idea how it makes a guy feel to know that you equate him with Milton. Heh. (The sad thing is that he wasn't the only one. *sigh*)

I guess it's time to add a Red Swingline Stapler (thinkgeek.com) to my wish list. I probably should replace the pair of Boston staplers that I was issued that tend to bind up too much...