I make things that go boom
Posted by Skrud at Wednesday, May 24th 2006 at 7:12pm
Okay, so I don’t really make things that go boom, I make command and control systems for things that boom… Well.. I don’t really do that, either. I’m a software engineering co-op, and I write documentation (…for command and control systems for boats that launch things that go boom). Actually I’m working on a prototype framework, but I’m not entirely sure how much I’m allowed to disclose, so I’ll leave it at that. (Yes, saying things like that gives my already-inflated ego an unnecessary boost).
I managed to nail an internship at Lockheed Martin Canada for the next seven months. I’m not in a co-op program, so that really means that I’m raping my course sequence in exchange for actual work experience. Lockheed didn’t care that I’m not a co-op student and gave me the job anyway, and I’m glad they did. I had my first day of work yesterday, when I read so many training manuals that I went cross-eyed. Today, though, I started to get involved in real work. And what is real work? Why, it’s the same stuff they’ve been teaching me in school. (Please feel free to experience shock).
Tomorrow I’ve got to get started writing … a Software Architecture Document. If you would’ve asked me about SADs a couple of months ago, I may have snarled and clubbed you over the head (or, more likely, cowered in fear). But now I actually look forward to it. I’m itching for the opportunity to show off what I’ve learned, and apply it.
I get to be elbow-deep in the design process. Not only am I supposed to write up the architecture document, but in so doing I’m to analyse and attempt to find flaws in the design. I’m encouraged to offer my input and potential improvements, to be critical and to discuss alternative solutions. I don’t feel like a worthless intern grunt; I feel like a team member. More than that, I feel validated in the fact that the stuff I’ve been doing in the classroom is being directly applied to the work I’m doing in industry. I feel well-prepared and it feels great.
The prototype I’m working on is being coded in Java, and I believe it’s actually the right tool for this job. (If you weren’t shocked before, you probably are now. When have I ever said anything positive about Java?). We’re writing a framework, and Java’s Foundation Classes provide an excellent foundation to build on. My boss loaned me a book on Swing, and it’s not bad at all (I really like the Layout classes). I’ve been learning a ton, and I’m looking foward to the next seven months with increasing enthusiasm.
Very cool stuff indeed. I know what you mean about “not knowing how much you can exactly disclose”. It does make one feel important, doesn’t it?
You sketchy bastard. :P
Who are you and how did you hack Skrud’s blog?
Glad to hear. Sounds exciting :)
Java is an appropriate tool for almost ALL programming applications.. Which I why I like it..
I could say the only place it’s not appropriate is in performance intensive games.. but then again, that’s what I do all day, so I think it’s rather appropriate there too!
(Okay, maybe performance sensitive is a better term!)
Welcome to the real world Skrud! Enjoy your stay while it lasts! (Because I know you gotta go back to school eventually!)
I felt the same way Skrud when I joined Even.
They made it pretty easy to figure out what is safe to talk about….Nothing! NDA everything.
Also i agree that it is pretty amazing to get paid to learn. that is probably the most rewarding part, is that you are solving real world problems, learning and getting paid for all of it.
Sometimes there is so much to learn I wish I could just assimilate it all in a borg like fashion to save time.
FiG: what about operating systems? Or graphic editing programs? The people at The Gimp often joke about accidentally translating their whole thing into Java overnight in a somnambulant state :)
I could see a Java based graphics editing program. ANd I suppose if you really wanted to you could figure out a way to program an OS in Java too, but I wouldn’t reccomend that.. (It woudl be hard to program grabage collection for something that doesn’t let you implicitly free memory)
We’re getting besides ourselves though! Huzzah for skrud and his job!
Jean-Nic walked by my cubicle as I had a word document open with the header “Achitecural Concerns” and he commented “Wow this looks just like an assignment”, to which I replied “Yeah but this time no one’s just going to slap an A- on it and then throw it out never to look at again”.