Specialization vs Generalization
The topic of specialization vs generalization in the software development world seems to come up more and more nowadays. On .NET Rocks a few weeks ago I remember the guys talking about the fact that you can even specialize within .NET development nowadays - you can be a WCF guru, for example, or an ADO.NET specialist.
In a typical week at my job, I have to have a decent handle on the .NET framework (including ADO.NET, web services, Windows Forms and Compact Framework), SharePoint administration, SQL Server (both T-SQL development and administration), SQL Reporting Services, Lotus Notes (both administration and development) ... the list goes on.
Would my job be more boring if I were just a database administrator and only had to worry about SQL Server? Probably. Would I be better at it? Definitely.
That's not to say that I want to specialize. I just wonder sometimes whether my life would be easier if I could focus on one aspect of the job, and delegate responsibility for, say, our SQL Server merge replication infrastructure, to a dedicated database administrator.
What do you think? For those who don't work with me (I already know that you guys are in the same boat), do you generalize or specialize? Would you prefer one over the other?
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Comments
# Euan
3/08/2007 12:47 PM
In places like SF or LA I would say definately. In Australia there just isnt enough work to justify specialisation yet.
Sure you COULD do it, but there would be very few companies wanting to employ you, or want your services.
# mabster
3/08/2007 12:50 PM
I think you're right, Eu. Whenever we have to hire a new developer (which thankfully doesn't happen often) we have a hell of a time finding someone. It's even harder in regional areas than it is in the cities, so we're WAY behind the major US centres.
# Euan
3/08/2007 12:53 PM
Exactly. In the US, almost anything can survive. Magazines about carp or even crap movies like DOA!
# Poo
3/08/2007 1:25 PM
Is it possible to specialize in generalizing?
I think that's me, either that or I'm a glutton for punishment..
10 years of support and networking, Cisco IOS, IP Network, Windows and Active Directory, SMTP Mail routing, Lotus Notes, SNMP (some of which I can't completely shake the responsibility of here, when the shit hits the fan I end up with the call)
Plus 5 odd years of development, MS SQL admin, Delphi, Com plus, C#, ASP, Sharepoint, some WPF and a whole host of hacked together integration with all sorts of systems that were never designed to work together (text file and sql backend crap)
I can't seem to get enough of it though seeing I was up till 1am this morning tinkering with my XNA game "Ride the Fury" (I also know OpenGL and DirectX(through XNA) pretty well).
I started laying out the advertisment for the new position here yesterday, it's an interesting exercise trying to write something to attract the right candidates, being regional we need to attract as many potential candidates as possible but still make it sound attractive to the more experienced ones.
Who knows what sort of weirdo we'll end up with?
# Euan
7/08/2007 4:12 PM
I had another think about this today and I must say I have taken a fairly big leap from my generalised IT job and specialised in SharePoint, .Net development and web technologies.
So I guess you can generally specialise in Melbourne ;)