Re: C++ and Design certification
On May 22, 6:36 am, "Alf P. Steinbach" <a...@start.no> wrote:
* neelsm...@rediffmail.com:
I have been working on C++ for some time now, and I think I have a
flair for design (which just might be only my imagination over-
stretched.. :) ). So, I tried to find a design certification, possibly
that involves C++, but, if not, C++ and UML. All I could find was Java
+ UML design certifications (one such is detailed on
http://www.objectsbydesign.com/tools/certification.html). Although UML
is expected to be language independent, if the certification itself is
Java + UML, I cannot expect to be able to pass it since I am only a
beginner in Java.
Is there any exam/certification which evaluates one's design
capability in object oriented design without any language or design
capability in C++?
I don't know of one. Any existing one would be bogus, in the sense of
lying to you and others about evaluating your design skills. Design is
the application of intelligence, and judging the result(s) is a matter
of seeing whether the design stands up in actual usage and, not the
least, wrt. maintenance, and that can't be done via an exam, except to
say that this or that design really and obviously sucks. There is
seldom any single right or even right answer to a design question,
although there are an infinity of clearly wrong answers.
It's possible to evaluate certain aspects of a design
beforehand. And even if the certification only worked to
eliminate the totally incompetent, it would be useful.
(Generally, from what I've seen, such certification only works
to eliminate those not willing or able to pay the fees. Which
really isn't a useful criteria.)
If you find design interesting, then that's good: programming in C++ is
all about design. So if you think you have a flair for C++ design, then
you're really thinking you have a flair for C++ programming. The
question you should be asking, given what you mention above, is then
whether you're far more happy at the UML level than at the C++ code
level; for if so, it may be you're deluding yourself, but if you're also
happy at the C++ code level, and can switch at will, translating one to
the other effortlessly in your mind, then you're probably not mistaken.
UML and C++ complement each other, and I would never start
coding an application without having done some design (in UML)
first. C++ is, first and foremost, and implementation tool, not
a design tool.
About "programming in C++ is all about design": read up on what e.g.
books like "Modern C++ Design" are all about.
About the only "design" in "Modern C++ Design" is in the title.
The book is mainly about implementation techniques; any design
considerations are limited to low level interface design, or
detailed design of specific components. C++ design, in sum, and
not application design. (E.g. how to design a shared pointer,
but not when to use one.)
They're 95% about C++ code. Much of the design is driven by
considerations of C++ code safety, efficiency, portability,
maintainability, and so forth, and not the least, C++ code
clarity -- maximize, and you have a good design.
You need high level design first.
--
James Kanze (GABI Software) email:james.kanze@gmail.com
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