So here is the question, should I go with the programmer->developer, or just go with the architect, if at all? SCJP is recommended by Sun for architect but not a prerequisite, so I'm wondering how heavily it weighs in studying for architect. People might disagree with what I'm gonna say but I think that
SCJP and
SCJD are definitely the way to go for you.
On
Sun Education web site, we can read that:
The Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform 1.4 certification exam is for programmers experienced in using the basic syntax and structure of the Java programming language. [...]
This performance-based certification [aka SCJD] is for programmers and developers who are already familiar with the basic structure and syntax of the Java programming language, and who have a need to demonstrate advanced proficiency in developing complex, production-level applications using Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE technology). As you can see, a certification exam is not primarly targeted at novices but more at people who already have a fair development experience in concrete industrial or academic settings and who want to get some kind of recognition for that. I don't want to re-open the ever-recurring debate on the certification and its (perceived) value, but I really think it is important that people not only learn the technology but also learn how to apply it on concrete cases prior to taking a certification exam. I once wrote
an article about this topic if you are interested. If your curriculum doesn't offer you the opportunity to work on concrete projects, I would advise you to join some open-source projects (
sourceforge.net, ...) as a developer. That way you can quickly put your hands in the dirt and gain knowledge.
And do I need to go through a few solid years of hands-on coding to qualify for like, a position in project management? Is it a more practical plan if I do that? I would definitely say YES! Depending on how much "solid" your development engagement is, the time it will take you to acquire the necessary knowledge will be shorter. Again, project management is not something that you can learn by reading books. Project management is something that you have to live on an every day basis in order to become proficient. There are so many differents facets to project management that make it a complex, yet very interesting, area. In order to become a good project manager, you definitely have to be part of a development team where you can observe how things are done and what all has to be taken care of in order for the project to be successful. And remember that
every project is different, so every time you start a new project, it will be different from the previous ones which means that you'll have to synthetize the acquired knowledge in order to apply it to the new project.
Projects are not "copy-pastable". Every time you start from scratch again and your experience is what will allow you to initiate, execute and end the project. Of course, there are many other factors which you might not always be in control of, but at least you will have the background for taking decisions on the spot as required.
[ May 26, 2004: Message edited by: Valentin Crettaz ]
