Rochester , New York CompTIA Training

Since you asked for the three most important things that non-programmers should know about, and I’ve spent most of my career working with more non-programmers than programmers, I have a few interesting things that would help.

Number One - It Is Impossible To Accurately Estimate Software Projects

No matter what is tried. No matter what tool, agile approach, or magic fairy dust people try to apply to creating software… accurately predicting software project timelines is basically impossible.

There are many good reasons for this. Usually, requirements and feature ideas change on a daily/weekly basis. Often it is impossible to know what needs to be done without actually digging into the code itself. Debugging and QA can take an extraordinary amount of time.

And worst of all…

Project Managers are always pushing for shorter timelines. They largely have no respect for reality. So, at some point they are given estimates just to make them feel better about planning.

No matter how much planning and estimation you do, it will be wrong. At best it will be directionally correct +/- 300% of what you estimated. So, a one year project could actually take anywhere between 0 and 5 years, maybe even 10 years.

If you think I’m joking, look at how many major ERP projects that go over time and over budget by many years and many hundreds of millions of dollars. Look at the F-35 fighter jet software issues.

Or in the small, you can find many cases where a “simple bug fix” can take days when you thought it was hours.

All estimates are lies made up to make everyone feel better. I’ve never met a developer or manager who could accurately estimate software projects even as well as the local weatherman(or woman) predicts the weather.

Number Two - Productivity Is Unevenly Distributed

What if I told you that in the average eight hour work day the majority of the work will get done in a 30 minute timeframe? Sound crazy?

Well, for most programmers there is a 30–90 minute window where you are extraordinarily productive. We call this the flow state.

Being in the flow state is wonderful and amazing. It often is where the “magic” of building software happens.

Getting into flow can be difficult. It’s akin to meditation in that you have to have a period of uninterrupted focus of say 30 minutes to “get in” the flow, but a tiny interruption can pull you right out.

Now consider the modern workplace environment. Programmers work in open office environments where they are invited to distract each other constantly.

Most people need a 1–2 hour uninterrupted block to get 30–90 minutes of flow.

Take the 8 hour day and break it in half with a lunch break, and then pile in a few meetings and all of a sudden you are lucky to get one decent flow state session in place.

That is why I say that most of the work that gets done happens in a 30 minute timeframe. The other 7–8 hours are spent being distracted, answering email, going to meetings, hanging around the water cooler, going to the bathroom, and trying to remember what you were working on before all these distractions.

Ironically, writers, musicians, and other creative professionals have their own version of this problem and largely work alone and away from other people when they are creating new things.

Someday the programming world might catch on, but I doubt it.

Even if this became obvious, it doesn’t sit well with most companies to think that programmers would be paid for an 8 hour day and only be cranking out code for a few hours on a good day. Some corporate middle manager would probably get the bright idea to have mandatory flow state training where a guru came in and then there would be a corporate policy from a pointy haired boss mandating that programmers are now required to spend 8 hours a day in flow state and they must fill out forms to track their time and notify their superiors of their flow state activities, otherwise there would be more meetings about the current flow state reports not being filed correctly and that programmers were spending too much time “zoning out” instead of being in flow.

Thus, programmers would spent 7–8 hours a day pretending to be in flow state, reporting on their progress, and getting all their work done in 30 minutes of accidental flow state somewhere in the middle of all that flow state reporting.

If you think I’m joking about this, I’m not. I promise you this is what would happen to any company of more than 2 employees. (Even the ones run by programmers.)

Number Three - It Will Cost 10x What You Think

Being a programmer, I get a lot of non-programmers telling me about their brilliant app ideas. Usually they want me to build something for free and are so generous as to pay me up to 5% of the profits for doing 100% of the work.

Their ideas are just that good.

Now, I gently tell them that I’m not interested in building anything for free.

At that point they get angry, but a few ask how much it will cost. I give them a reasonable (and very incorrect) estimate of what it would cost to create the incredibly simple version of their app idea.

Let’s say it’s some number like $25,000.

They look at me like I’m a lunatic, and so I explain how much it costs to hire a contract programmer and how long it will actually take. For example’s sake let’s say it is $100/hr for 250 hours.

To be clear, these are made up numbers and bad estimates (See Number One for details…)

In actuality, to build the actual thing they want might cost $250,000, or even $2,500,000 when it’s all said and done.

Building software can be incredibly complex and expensive. What most people can’t wrap their head around is the fact that a company like Google, Apple, or Microsoft has spent BILLIONS of dollars to create something that looks so simple to the end user.

Somehow, the assumption is that something that looks simple is cheap and fast to build.

Building something simple and easy for the end user is time consuming and expensive. Most people just can’t do it.

So, the average person with a brilliant app idea thinks it will cost a few hundred or maybe a few thousand dollars to make and it will be done in a weekend is so off the mark it’s not worth considering their ideas.

And programmers are too eager to play along with these bad ideas (by making bad estimates and under charging for their time) that this notion is perpetuated to the average non-programmer.

So, a good rule of thumb is that software will cost 10 times as much as you think and take 10 times as long to finish.

And that leads to a bonus point…

BONUS - Software Is Never Done

Programmers never complete a software project, they only stop working on it. Software is never done.

I’ve worked at many software companies and I’ve never seen a software project “completed”.

Sure, software gets released and used. But, it is always changing, being updated, bugs get fixed, and there are always new customer requests for features.

Look at your favorite software and you’ll quickly realize how true this is. Facebook, Instagram, Google Search, Google Maps, GMail, iOS, Android, Windows, and now even most video games are never done.

There are small armies of developers just trying to keep all the software you use every day stable and bug free. Add on the fact that there are always feature requests, small changes, and new platforms to deal with, it’s a treadmill.

So, the only way out of the game is to stop working on software. At that point, the software begins to decay until it is no longer secure or supported.

Think about old Windows 3.1 software or maybe old Nintendo Cartridge video games. The current computers and video game consoles don’t even attempt to run that software anymore.

You can’t put an old video game in your new Nintendo Switch and have it “just work”. That is what happens when you think software is done.

When programmers stop working on software the software starts to die. The code itself is probably fine, but all the other software keeps moving forward until your software is no longer compatible with the current technology.

So, those are the four most important things that non-programmers should know about programming. I know you asked for only three, so I hope the bonus was valuable to you as well.

The Five Principles of Performance

[Jun, 18, 2014] |
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Much of success is about performance. It’s about what we do and what we are able to inspire others to do. There are some simple performance principles I have learned in my life, and I want to share them with you. They really bring success, and what it takes to be successful, into sharp focus. They are also the basis for developing and maintaining an expectation of success.

The Five Principles of Performance

1. We generally get from ourselves and others what we expect. It is a huge fact that you will either live up or down to your own expectations. If you expect to lose, you will. If you expect to be average, you will be average. If you expect to feel bad, you probably will. If you expect to feel great, nothing will slow you down. And what is true for you is true for others. Your expectations for others will become what they deliver and achieve. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

2. The difference between good and excellent companies is training. The only thing worse than training employees and losing them is to not train them and keep them! A football team would not be very successful if they did not train, practice, and prepare for their opponents. When you think of training as practice and preparation, it makes you wonder how businesses survive that do not make significant training investments in their people.

Actually, companies that do not train their people and invest in their ability don’t last. They operate from a competitive disadvantage and are eventually gobbled up and defeated in the marketplace. If you want to improve and move from good to excellent, a good training strategy will be the key to success.

Personal and Business Benefits of RSS Feeds

[Mar, 12, 2013] |
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The RSS feed, which commonly stands for Really Simple Syndication, is an internet protocol that helps spread the availability of frequently published or updated Internet content.

RSS Benefits for an Internet Content Provider or Blogger
The use of an RSS feed saves immeasurable time for a content provider. When an interested person subscribes to an RSS feed, the owner of that feed now has a way to reach large numbers of people without having to resort to spamming techniques. The RSS feed also allows a content provider to send the requested topical information without specifically asking, every time, to those people who have subscribed. The content provider uses a program, written in XML code to make the information they post available to each person that has requested a subscription to that particular RSS feed.

RSS Benefits for the Average Internet User
The Internet grows larger by the minute. It is easy for a person to have information overload. The use of an RSS feed gives an individual more control over what information they see while on the Internet. It is also very useful for anyone that wants to stay up to date. Subscribing to the RSS feed for a topic of interest automatically provides the subscriber continued availability of the latest information on that topic. The Internet user relies on a small program called an RSS Feeder to gather the information on the RSS feeds to which they have subscribed.

Most browsers these days have built in RSS readers making that gathering the desired information easier than ever to accomplish. Joining an RSS feed is a very simple thing to accomplish.

RSS Benefits for Small Businesses

More and more Small Business owners are adapting targeted online marketing campaigns such as RSS Feeds in order to provide relevant content to new and existing customers. Maintaining web content such as: company news; contests; promotional events; related articles; notifications; product launches; directories; and newsletters are examples of ways of staying in touch with customers in any niche market. As search engines retrieve information from RSS Feeds and content is syndicated to other websites, chances of increased traffic are inevitable. For active websites, RSS feeds are invaluable tools for small business owners.

USA.gov Updates: News and Features

Search for RSS feeds (search topics)

Welcome to Google Reader (find and keep track of interesting stuff on the web.)

NPR public radio station (popular, news, program and topics RSS feeds)

RSS in Plain English (video)

10 Helpful Uses of RSS Feeds for Marketing

Incorporate Google RSS feeds onto your site

Adding RSS Content on Yahoo

Java Message Service Tutorial

[Sep, 15, 2012] |
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Below are two pdf's which discuss and outline the Java Message Service, JMS, tutorial.

One Hour Java Messaging Service Tutorial
Advanced One Hour Java Messaging Service Tutorial

Tech Life in New York

City The Big Apple is home of two of the worldâ€™s largest stock market exchanges, the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. As a leading business center in the United States, New York has more Fortune 500 headquartered companies than any other city. Technology is blossoming in the Big Apple as major internet conglomerates like Google move their offices into â€œtelecom hotelsâ€ such as the 311,000 square feet office space downtown. As in any other city there are pros and cons of living in New York City. For instance, there is so much to do, itâ€™s easy to get around with the transit system, itâ€™s safe, convenient, and has plenty of job opportunities. On the other hand, it can be overwhelmingly expensive, overcrowded, a bit impersonal and fast paced. New Yorkers enjoy Central Park, multi cultural activities and food, theatre, film festivals, farmers markets, fashion and anything else they could possibly think of...itâ€™s all there.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. ~Albert Einstein

other Learning Options

Software developers near Rochester have ample opportunities to meet like minded techie individuals, collaborate and expend their career choices by participating in Meet-Up Groups. The following is a list of Technology Groups in the area.

Hacker Hours · New York Adobe CQ / CQ5 / AEM Developer Community · NYC Pipeline Developers ·

Fortune 500 and 1000 companies in New York that offer opportunities for CompTIA developers

Company Name	City	Industry	Secondary Industry
NYSE Euronext, Inc.	New York	Financial Services	Securities Agents and Brokers
Anderson Instrument Company Inc.	Fultonville	Manufacturing	Tools, Hardware and Light Machinery
News Corporation	New York	Media and Entertainment	Radio and Television Broadcasting
Philip Morris International Inc	New York	Manufacturing	Manufacturing Other
Loews Corporation	New York	Travel, Recreation and Leisure	Hotels, Motels and Lodging
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America	New York	Financial Services	Insurance and Risk Management
Jarden Corporation	Rye	Manufacturing	Manufacturing Other
Ralph Lauren Corporation	New York	Retail	Clothing and Shoes Stores
Icahn Enterprises, LP	New York	Financial Services	Investment Banking and Venture Capital
Viacom Inc.	New York	Media and Entertainment	Media and Entertainment Other
Omnicom Group Inc.	New York	Business Services	Advertising, Marketing and PR
Henry Schein, Inc.	Melville	Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Biotech	Medical Supplies and Equipment
Pfizer Incorporated	New York	Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Biotech	Pharmaceuticals
Eastman Kodak Company	Rochester	Computers and Electronics	Audio, Video and Photography
Assurant Inc.	New York	Business Services	Data and Records Management
PepsiCo, Inc.	Purchase	Manufacturing	Nonalcoholic Beverages
Foot Locker, Inc.	New York	Retail	Department Stores
Barnes and Noble, Inc.	New York	Retail	Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores
Alcoa	New York	Manufacturing	Metals Manufacturing
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.	New York	Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Biotech	Personal Health Care Products
Avon Products, Inc.	New York	Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Biotech	Personal Health Care Products
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	New York	Financial Services	Banks
Marsh and McLennan Companies	New York	Financial Services	Insurance and Risk Management
Corning Incorporated	Corning	Manufacturing	Concrete, Glass, and Building Materials
CBS Corporation	New York	Media and Entertainment	Radio and Television Broadcasting
Bristol Myers Squibb Company	New York	Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Biotech	Biotechnology
Citigroup Incorporated	New York	Financial Services	Banks
Goldman Sachs	New York	Financial Services	Personal Financial Planning and Private Banking
American International Group (AIG)	New York	Financial Services	Insurance and Risk Management
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc.	New York	Business Services	Advertising, Marketing and PR
BlackRock, Inc.	New York	Financial Services	Securities Agents and Brokers
MetLife Inc.	New York	Financial Services	Insurance and Risk Management
Consolidated Edison Company Of New York, Inc.	New York	Energy and Utilities	Gas and Electric Utilities
Time Warner Cable	New York	Telecommunications	Cable Television Providers
Morgan Stanley	New York	Financial Services	Investment Banking and Venture Capital
American Express Company	New York	Financial Services	Credit Cards and Related Services
International Business Machines Corporation	Armonk	Computers and Electronics	Computers, Parts and Repair
TIAA-CREF	New York	Financial Services	Securities Agents and Brokers
JPMorgan Chase and Co.	New York	Financial Services	Investment Banking and Venture Capital
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.	New York	Media and Entertainment	Newspapers, Books and Periodicals
L-3 Communications Inc.	New York	Manufacturing	Aerospace and Defense
Colgate-Palmolive Company	New York	Consumer Services	Personal Care
New York Life Insurance Company	New York	Financial Services	Insurance and Risk Management
Time Warner Inc.	New York	Media and Entertainment	Media and Entertainment Other
Cablevision Systems Corp.	Bethpage	Media and Entertainment	Radio and Television Broadcasting
CA Technologies, Inc.	Islandia	Software and Internet	Software
Verizon Communications Inc.	New York	Telecommunications	Telephone Service Providers and Carriers
Hess Corporation	New York	Energy and Utilities	Gasoline and Oil Refineries

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the hartmann software group advantage

why take CompTIA Training with the hartmann software group?

A successful career as a software developer or other IT professional requires a solid understanding of software development processes, design patterns, enterprise application architectures, web services, security, networking and much more. The progression from novice to expert can be a daunting endeavor; this is especially true when traversing the learning curve without expert guidance. A common experience is that too much time and money is wasted on a career plan or application due to misinformation.

The Hartmann Software Group understands these issues and addresses them and others during any training engagement. Although no IT educational institution can guarantee career or application development success, HSG can get you closer to your goals at a far faster rate than self paced learning and, arguably, than the competition. Here are the reasons why we are so successful at teaching:

Learn from the experts.
1. We have provided software development and other IT related training to many major corporations in New York since 2002.
2. Our educators have years of consulting and training experience; moreover, we require each trainer to have cross-discipline expertise i.e. be Java and .NET experts so that you get a broad understanding of how industry wide experts work and think.
Discover tips and tricks about CompTIA programming
Get your questions answered by easy to follow, organized CompTIA experts
Get up to speed with vital CompTIA programming tools
Save on travel expenses by learning right from your desk or home office. Enroll in an online instructor led class. Nearly all of our classes are offered in this way.
Prepare to hit the ground running for a new job or a new position
See the big picture and have the instructor fill in the gaps
We teach with sophisticated learning tools and provide excellent supporting course material
Books and course material are provided in advance
Get a book of your choice from the HSG Store as a gift from us when you register for a class
Gain a lot of practical skills in a short amount of time
We teach what we know…software
We care…

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CompTIA Training Classes in Rochester, New York

Learn CompTIA in Rochester, NewYork and surrounding areas via our hands-on, expert led courses. All of our classes either are offered on an onsite, online or public instructor led basis. Here is a list of our current CompTIA related training offerings in Rochester, New York: CompTIA Training

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