Apprenticeships on Open Source

Apprenticeships on Open Source

OSCON 2008Dave Hoover, Obtiva, ChicagoBrian Tatnall, Stark Investments,

Chicago

Disclaimer!

Disclaimer!

This talk is based on our experiences

Disclaimer!

This talk is based on our experiences

We'd love to hear about yours!

What's Your Problem?


You need talented, experienced people


You need talented, experienced people

But you can't find enough of them



You need experience to get a job


You need experience to get a job

But that's a Catch-22

What's Our Problem?

What's Our Problem?

We have a disconnect between demand for quality people and our ability to find these people

What's Our Problem?

We have a disconnect between our desire to become top-notch

developers and our ability to reach that level

Glut and Shortage

We can take the time needed to nurture apprentice developers because we are faced with the problem of abundance, rather than scarcity... Today we have more developers than needed, but we have a shortage of good developers.

Pete McBreen, Software Craftsmanship, Chapter 12

Root of the Problem

Root of the Problem

Root of the Problem

Instant Gratification

Root of the Problem

We want to hire a known quantity

Root of the Problem

We want to hire a known quantity

Rather than develop one

Root of the Problem

Root of the Problem

We want to make as much money as we can right now

Root of the Problem

We want to make as much money as we can right now

Rather than set ourselves up for the long-term

A Related Problem

A Related Problem

I just spent 4 years paying to learn

computer science

A Related Problem


computer science

Now it's time to get paid

A Related Problem


computer science

A Related Problem

I just spent 4 years paying to learncomputer science

Don't ask me to spend my free time learning another language

An Interesting Problem


I'm a philosophy major turned programmer


I'm a philosophy major turned programmer

I assume I will be learning languages on my own time

Wha?

Wha?

How does a philospher become a programmer?

Hmm...

Open Source FTW!

Open Source FTW!Free Software


+Web Search


+Web Search

+Books


+Web Search

+Books

+Online Communities


+Web Search

+Books

+Online Communities

+User Groups

Open Source FTW!Free Software = Perl

Web Search = Google

Books = Camel

Online Communities = perlmonks.org

User Groups = chicago.pm

==

Novice-level knowledge is cheap to acquire


(like $30)


But what does that get us?

Opportunity

Hire an established craftsman

Opportunity

Hire an established craftsman

Then hire for potential over credential

Opportunity

A key task for all master software craftsmen is taking apprentices and journeymen under their wing and providing an environment in which they can practice their craft.

Pete McBreen, Software Craftsmanship, Chapter 11

Opportunity

Don't Feed the Glut

You could hire 4 mid-level developers

Don't Feed the Glut

You could hire 4 mid-level developers

And send them each to a 4 day training

Don't Feed the Glut

||

You could hire 1 craftsman

Solve the Shortage

You could hire 1 craftsman(who makes more than you, but makes you look like a superstar)

Solve the Shortage


and 2 apprentices

Solve the Shortage


and 2 apprentices

And watch the apprentices quickly surpass your old mid-level

developers

Solve the Shortage

But, where do apprentices come from?

Stories

Dave, a psychologist

Stories

Dave, a psychologistBrian, a theologist

Stories


Nate, a young hacker

Stories


Nate, a young hackerFred, a philosopher

Stories


Nate, a young hackerFred, a philosopher

Jake, a physics teacher

Stories

Are we anti-CS grad?

Absolutely not


Absolutely not

They just need the right attitude


Absolutely not


Absolutely not

But they might be (or have been) anti-apprenticeship


Apprentices are Cheap

But quickly stop being cheap


But quickly stop being cheap

If all goes well


Apprentices are Expensive

They are getting paid to learn


They are getting paid to learn

They take time and money to ramp up


Craftsmen are Cheap

They can do the work of 3-4 mid-level programmers

Craftsmen are Cheap

They can do the work of 3-4 mid-level programmers

For the price of 2 mid-level programmers

Craftsmen are Cheap

Craftsmen are Expensive


At the price of 2 mid-level programmers


At the price of 2 mid-level programmers

They might get paid more than their manager...


The Business Case

The Business Case

1 Craftsman + 2 Apprentices

The Business Case


Costs 3 mid-level programmers

The Business Case


The Business Case


Will soon outperform 3 mid-level programmers

Successful Apprenticeships


Profit the company


Profit the company

While increasing the apprentice's market value

The Setup

The Setup

An experienced, passionate developer

The Setup

An experienced, passionate developer

Interested in mentoring

The Setup

The Setup

An enthusiastic, knowledge sponge

The Setup

An enthusiastic, knowledge sponge

Willing to give up some pay in the short-term for long-term

opportunity

Potential vs. Credential


You're going to learn about their strengths as you go


You're going to learn about their strengths as you go

Not a good fit for specialization, you need flexibility

Cultivate the Culture


Value learning over competence


Value learning over competence

Craftsman models lifelong learning



Inherit from Open Source culture


Inherit from Open Source culture

Transparency and Testing



Without a master craftsman


Without a master craftsman

You need a strong network of journeymen

First Steps

First Steps

First Steps

2 kings, 1 pawn

First Steps

2 kings, 1 pawn

Beware of the firehose

First Steps

First Steps

Be the worst

First Steps

Be the worst

Don't stagnate

Q & A & D

Credits / ReferencesMary Treseler from O'Reilly

My Bookhttp://softwarecraftsmanship.oreilly.com

McBreen's bookhttp://mcbreen.ab.ca/SoftwareCraftsmanship

Photos (mostly) from Flickr

Slides from http://280slides.com

Technology

Apprenticeships on Open Source