Missing the point (Score 1)

I've read nearly a hundred posts in this thread, but I think many people are missing the point. Does it matter in the real world if you're one of the top 100 coders? NO! When you're a professional developer/systems architect, there are many points that are essential to your success, and coding ability is only one of them. First and foremost, you need good communications skills. Without them, you don't understand the problem and you won't come up with the correct solution, regardless of skills. Then you need to understand the business processes behind what you're doing. While this may not apply to someone developing a kernel, I'm guessing most coders are developing custom software to support a business or a particular business unit. Then you have to realize that business is very short-sighted. Most companies won't care if the solution isn't implemented in a particular manner as long as the solution WORKS. This is why more than a few companies are moving their outsourcing solutions back the the US and Europe. Communication barriers (not just language) and a lack of understanding of business processes in the western world can lead to increasing development costs and time.

Mod me down, but after 10 years of development I realize its never the best coder that gets paid the most.