The seniors are restless. They want this project to be done and damn the synchronization problems! The professors are full of suggestions for further tweaks and kindly don't laugh out loud when the kids blame the problems on differing propagations through the cables to the various boards (because unless the cables are a mile long, that nanosecond delay per foot isn't perceptible to the equipment). That's right, blame the hardware!
The kids fall back on their next suspect: dropped packets. In fact, the real source of the error is that they're having to use TCP/IP which is not appropriate for the type of data synchronization they're doing.
My part in this? I'm taking over the project after they leave. I have to get them to tell me all they know, walk me through their code, and show me how to use all the development software during the same four-day window that they are wrapping everything up, writing their paper, and preparing for their final exams. And Dr. Smith, who is responsible for the continuation of the project, has got his own priorities.
Damn. People skills.
Can't I just hide behind a computer?
192 words | May 4, 2004 08:54 PM | Rocket science