JOEL ON SOFTWARE: And on Diverse and Occasionally Related Matters That Will Prove of Interest to Software Developers, Designers, and Managers, and to Those Who, Whether by Good Fortune or Ill Luck, Work with Them in Some Capacity

INTRODUCTION

You never asked to be a manager. Like most software developers I know, you would have been much, much happier if they would just let you sit and code quietly. But you're the best developer, and when Nigel, the old team lead, had that unfortunate accident with the bungee cord and the laptop computer, it seemed natural to promote you, the team star.

So now, you have your own office (instead of sharing a cubicle with The Summer Intern Who Never Left), and you have to fill out those biannual performance reviews (instead of ruining your eyesight staring happily into a CRT all day), that is, when you're not wasting time dealing with the bizarre demands of prima donna programmers, back-slapping sales guys, those creative "UI designers" ...