surfin2u - 4:15 pm on Sep 20, 2005 (gmt 0)

On the question of the importance of COBOL, I would like to ask how many universities offer COBOL programming courses as an important language in their computer science curriculum? More to the point, my reason for bringing up COBOL was my assertion that managers, who though COBOL would relieve them of needing programmers, realized that it didn't because managers usually can't program.

I do believe that people can learn to design and build simple databases and if you're a do-it-yourselfer then have at it. Here's an analogy. If you're sick, you may first try to cure yourself with a few things, but if they don't work, then you go see the doctor. Nothing wrong with that in my opinion. You understand your limitations and act within them. No problem.

It's when you violate the Clint Eastwood rule, "A man has got to know his limitations" that you get in trouble.

The problem with building your own database solution for your business is that when it doesn't work out, the situation can be seriously bad. Your business is growing quickly and your system won't do what you need it to. You're forced to resort to alternatives that might be quite painful. Just like when you wait too long to go to the doctor. It can kill you, or just be a headache, depending on how lucky you are. Are you feeling lucky?