I am a software and web developer and network / system engineer on the side. While I am technically employed as only a developer, I often help out on the engineering side of the world. I’ve had jobs in both realms, though primarily in development. I dislike being asked which world I prefer. Why can’t it be both? Does being an engineer require ditching all application development skills? Does being a developer mean I can’t know how to troubleshoot a network? I say no. In fact, I think living in both worlds is a healthy thing.
If a developer understands at least at a minimal level, how networking works or how to setup a server, they also gain a greater appreciation for how the code they write will impact the environment it runs on. It’s also pretty handy in troubleshooting.
Likewise, if an engineer has even the slightest bit of development knowledge, they gain a lot of speed in troubleshooting. If an engineer knows something about development, they may be able to speed up some of their routine tasks by scripting something out. They may also be in a better place to troubleshoot that 100% CPU usage that the new version of someone’s code is using.
In any case, I like both worlds. I choose to stay in both worlds. If I can’t do it at work, no biggie. I’ll always tinker around at home with something to get my “geek fix”. I also volunteer for my local church and do plenty of networking and other engineering there. In fact, helping out at the church has actually helped me gain a lot more knowledge in areas I had never been.
I will always refer to myself first as a developer. I hate even using a single title. When do we ever get to wear a single “hat” in the real world? I mean, how often has the office receptionist done more than her job description contained? Everyday. How often does any job stay confined to its initial job description? Never. For my title, I’d just like “Resident Geek”, or if it has to stay more professional, “Development Engineer”. Any better suggestions?
So, I challenge every geek out there. Learn something you may not have an interest in currently. It may not be fun, but you may find it fun later. At least you have a greater appreciation for those who deal with the things which you don’t.
