... spending some "qualified management time" to recollect C programming skills.
I always loved writing shell scripts. Yet, data exchange between UNIX processes (and executed shell scripts in particular) has its own limitations. The only strong way to have full-fledged data exchange between 2 running shell scripts is through the file system. Not very fast, and you shouldn't forget to use the file locking mechanism to avoid race conditions :)
On the other hand, UNIX has old-fashioned shared memory API allowing processes to share in-memory data, and the similar-aged semaphores API to synchronize access to shared resources. Surprisingly, there is still no command-line utility reusing those APIs and providing synchronized access to in-memory data from shell script.
This ANSI C tool is for curious sysadmins and just unlucky scripts writers:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/shmmap/
Compiled, unit-tested, subversioned ... ufff :)
August 23, 2010
August 8, 2010
Politics
You look for a job.
Well ... you composed your resume, assembled your results, achievements and bla-bla-bla.
Suppose that you just left a big and corrupt organization and you are full of enthusiasm to find something better with no politics, you are eager to do real work with the real people.
You've found a company, which is small and in production domain. You think that there can be no politics. Well, wrong.
Politics exists even there. Apparently, someone in the board of investors is willing to keep things as they are now. Let engineering be led as it is, please, no changes. Regardless of how bad it is going on now. Regardless of how good you might be there to fix the situation. Politics, politics ...
Just be ready to accept this fact. Whether the company is a small or big one, whether it is a start-up or mature one, the politics will always exist. So, the only way to move on is to admit this fact first.
Then you realize that you must use all your skills to influence the situation: try to affect the decision makers, try to use insider's help. Just justifying it for yourself as you believe you can help those guys streamline the things and get better results by hiring you.
People hate making THE changes. It is much easier for them to play politics.
Well ... you composed your resume, assembled your results, achievements and bla-bla-bla.
Suppose that you just left a big and corrupt organization and you are full of enthusiasm to find something better with no politics, you are eager to do real work with the real people.
You've found a company, which is small and in production domain. You think that there can be no politics. Well, wrong.
Politics exists even there. Apparently, someone in the board of investors is willing to keep things as they are now. Let engineering be led as it is, please, no changes. Regardless of how bad it is going on now. Regardless of how good you might be there to fix the situation. Politics, politics ...
Just be ready to accept this fact. Whether the company is a small or big one, whether it is a start-up or mature one, the politics will always exist. So, the only way to move on is to admit this fact first.
Then you realize that you must use all your skills to influence the situation: try to affect the decision makers, try to use insider's help. Just justifying it for yourself as you believe you can help those guys streamline the things and get better results by hiring you.
People hate making THE changes. It is much easier for them to play politics.
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