Tim Starling wrote:
Not everyone has 20 years of programming experience.
Many potential
Wikipedia developers don't have that kind of skill level. That doesn't mean
they don't have a useful contribution to make. And their skill will increase
over time, as they work with us.
I couldn't agree more and was only trying to make a point about motives
for software development varying among experience groups.
IMO, actual technical skill in writing software, troubleshooting, and so
forth doesn't really increase much after the first three or four years
of experience. At that point skill is determined more by aptitude,
environment knowledge and project-specific knowledge. Ancillary skills
such as estimating, requirements analysis, teamwork, and the like do
however continue to accrue with time.
As for financial incentives: let's just say
opinions are divided. Maybe if
Louis pushed it for long enough, and made a good enough case, it might
happen. But I think there's a fairly large potential labour pool who will
work for nothing (except for a bit of support).
The likelihood of anything happening at Wikipedia because "Louis pushed
it for long enough" is remote enough to be mirthsome.
One of the things that occured to me after I sent the post was that pay,
even if token, would allow volunteers to include their work for
Wikipedia on a resume or job application more credibly if they wished to
do so.
Louis