From: Gustav Paul <gustav@...>
Date: 2006-11-11T06:52:16+09:00
Subject: Re: looking for some feedback about Certification

pat eyler wrote:
> Aaah, nothing like a good controversial topic to stir up a holy war
> for the weekend.
>
> I've posted two different requests for feedback on a project over at
> my blog:
>
> http://on-ruby.blogspot.com/2006/11/ruby-certification-is-it-worth-it.html
>
> http://on-ruby.blogspot.com/2006/11/ruby-certification-what-should-it.html
>
>
> They boil down to this:  I've been asked to help a university put
> together a
> continuing education program to teach Ruby.  It will be a three course
> series and will end with a Ruby Certification for the students completing
> it.  I'd like to collect your opinions about two things:
>  1) Is Ruby ready for/in need of a certification program?
>  2) What should be in a program like this?
>
> I'd like to collect the feedback in blog comments (easier to refer
> to them, etc.), but I realize that just bringing it up here is liable to
> cause a mailstrom of emails, news posts, etc. -- please, at least
> try to keep it civil if you're going to reply here (for whatever value
> of here is appropriate for the way you consume ruby-talk)
>
>
> I'll now slink away and hide in the corner for a bit.
>
lol

First of all, I'm in no means a ruby expert!

1) I think it's probably a good idea. I can only imagine that having
something legitimate-looking that tells prospective employers that
you've gone through the trouble of learning a non-mainstream (compared
to Java) language like Ruby will impress them and increase your chances
of getting a job? I'm still in high school though, so others will have
more experience with this kind of thing.

2) I'd imagine that someone who wants to write something like 'certified
rubyist' behind his name should at the very least be able to comprehend
and implement the ruby basics as covered in eg. Chris Pine's Learning to
Program and Why's Guide (comprehend the non-fictional parts anyway).

Just my 2c worth.

Cheery-o
Gustav Paul
gustav@rails.co.za