In any vocation there are those who like the tools and those who like the task. If you are truly blessed you like both.

Within a work environment the task is the prime objective. Choosing the right tool for the job and then using it for the task at hand is the goal. There is nothing wrong with this, indeed it is the way it should be.

While the tools are an integral part of the task there comes a point where a fascination for the tools obscures the core task at hand. Within a working environment this can be a problem.

Although programmers like Damien Conway would find a job almost anywhere they have chosen an academic environment to allow them to indulge their fascination with the tools without having too many annoying tasks (that that actually have to be done) to spoil the fun.

Sure professional development in a work environment is important and to be encouraged but so to is the development of interpersonal skills and teamwork. Let's face it you love hacking Perl, and are very good at it - but you are setting youself up for disappointment if you want everyone to share your particular personal passion of patching porting and playing with Perl.

cheers

tachyon

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