does a software architect need UML skills?

[not_a_commie]

If you were going to hire a software architect / functional lead for
your project (written exclusively in C# including WPF, WCF) would you
require that they have UML skills?

Is being able to draw the standard UML diagrams in a notebook
sufficient, or would you require that they have some experience with
some UML program or another? Which program?

[Radek Cerny]

I certainly would not require it. Having direct UML skills implies that you
understand process models and object oriented methodology etc, but one can
have expert knowledge in these and not have UML skills.

Experience and a proven track record in the things you deem important for
your project are crucial, not UML skills.
"not_a_comm ie" <no********@gma il.comwrote in message
news:11******** **************@ v29g2000prd.goo glegroups.com.. .

If you were going to hire a software architect / functional lead for
your project (written exclusively in C# including WPF, WCF) would you
require that they have UML skills?

Is being able to draw the standard UML diagrams in a notebook
sufficient, or would you require that they have some experience with
some UML program or another? Which program?

[Peter Duniho]

not_a_commie wrote:

If you were going to hire a software architect / functional lead for
your project (written exclusively in C# including WPF, WCF) would you
require that they have UML skills?

Unless the job has some specific requirement to work with UML as the
basic architectural paradigm (for example, the team already depends
heavily on UML), I would not consider it at all. Even with such a
requirement, I would keep in mind that it's much more important to hire
a smart, adaptable person who can learn UML or other techniques as
needed than to focus on specific skill sets.

Obviously there has to be some fundamental basic skills, but those
aren't going to involve specific design techniques, or even specific
languages for that matter. I would much rather hire a smart guy who has
never seen C#, Java or C++ than to hire a dumb guy who claims to know
all three.

Of course, I may be a little biased, given that I think I have a clue
when it comes to software architecture, but had to Google UML to find
out what the heck you're talking about. :)

Pete

[Andrew Faust]

If a candidate is smart enough to consider hiring, he/she is certainly
smart enough to pick up UML quickly.

--
Andrew Faust
andrew[at]andrewfaust.com
http://www.andrewfaust.com
"not_a_comm ie" <no********@gma il.comwrote in message
news:11******** **************@ v29g2000prd.goo glegroups.com.. .

If you were going to hire a software architect / functional lead for
your project (written exclusively in C# including WPF, WCF) would you
require that they have UML skills?

Is being able to draw the standard UML diagrams in a notebook
sufficient, or would you require that they have some experience with
some UML program or another? Which program?

[namekuseijin]

On Oct 24, 12:55 am, not_a_commie <notacom...@gma il.comwrote:

If you were going to hire a software architect / functional lead for
your project (written exclusively in C# including WPF, WCF) would you
require that they have UML skills?

yes, and he should also be skilled in XML, BS and WTF...

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Arne_Vajh=F8j?=]

not_a_commie wrote:

If you were going to hire a software architect / functional lead for
your project (written exclusively in C# including WPF, WCF) would you
require that they have UML skills?

Yes. Unless standards don't mean anything in your organization.

UML is the standard for diagrams in the industry.

He/she may not like UML. He/she may not want to use UML for
this project. But he/she should know UML.

You would not hire a C# programmer that had never heard
about for loops no matter how smart he/she appeared to be.

Is being able to draw the standard UML diagrams in a notebook
sufficient, or would you require that they have some experience with
some UML program or another? Which program?

Tools does not matter much.

There are plenty of them. And if he knows 3 tools, then your
are probably using tool #4.

Arne

[Jon Skeet [C# MVP]]

On Oct 25, 2:19 am, Arne Vajhøj <a...@vajhoej.d kwrote:

not_a_commie wrote:

If you were going to hire a software architect / functional lead for
your project (written exclusively in C# including WPF, WCF) would you
require that they have UML skills?

Yes. Unless standards don't mean anything in your organization.

UML is the standard for diagrams in the industry.

That doesn't mean it's the only - or even the most effective - way to
communicate.

Personally, I've never been a fan of UML. I use it where it's
absolutely required, but I wouldn't claim to know it well at all. The
important thing is that whether I'm using UML or not, with a diagram
and some explanatory words I can make myself understood.

I'd rather be able to whip up a quick picture on a whiteboard which
just has blocks showing what's going on, without worrying about
getting all the UML symbols etc correct, and talk someone through the
picture (or use written text if necessary) than spend hours on a UML
diagram.

Just MHO. And yes, I've been to job interviews where people have been
surprised and disappointed in a lack of UML. That doesn't mean they're
right though ;)

Jon

[Bob Powell [MVP]]

They should also have skills in BOX and ARRO.

--
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Visual C#, System.Drawing

Ramuseco Limited .NET consulting
http://www.ramuseco.com

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namekuseijin wrote:

On Oct 24, 12:55 am, not_a_commie <notacom...@gma il.comwrote:

>If you were going to hire a software architect / functional lead for
your project (written exclusively in C# including WPF, WCF) would you
require that they have UML skills?

yes, and he should also be skilled in XML, BS and WTF...

[=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Arne_Vajh=F8j?=]

Jon Skeet [C# MVP] wrote:

On Oct 25, 2:19 am, Arne Vajhøj <a...@vajhoej.d kwrote:

>not_a_commie wrote:

>>If you were going to hire a software architect / functional lead for
your project (written exclusively in C# including WPF, WCF) would you
require that they have UML skills?

Yes. Unless standards don't mean anything in your organization.

UML is the standard for diagrams in the industry.

That doesn't mean it's the only - or even the most effective - way to
communicate.

Personally, I've never been a fan of UML.

What you did not quote was:

#He/she may not like UML. He/she may not want to use UML for
#this project. But he/she should know UML.

UML is the standard.

There may be reasons not to use the standard.

But now knowing the standard is a very poor reason.

Arne

[Radek Cerny]

[snip]

>
UML is the standard.

Says Who again? Maybe in some organisations, but not any global body that
matters.