Trustbusting

Teach the Coders

Regarding Mike Lee's column "Software With Security in Mind" (April 1, 2004), I agree that most programmers aren't adequately trained to write secure software. But rather than bash the coders, why not refer them to appropriate training programs? For example, they could be taught the Personal Software Process and the Team Software Process, methodologies aimed at helping developers produce higher-quality code more quickly.

True, someone will have to pay for the training. But if we get the word out, more organizations will be amenable to providing it.

Let's teach programmers to write clean code the first time around. Patch management can be left for enhancements and changes in post-delivery requirements.Suzanna J. Springer
CMMI Coordinator
AnviCom

[email protected]

No Bones About It

I loved Hunter Metatek's column "Our Own Worst Enemy" (July 8, 2004). He's done a great service for those of us who keep advising, "No unannounced/ unplanned exercises."

Boneyards are littered with the skeletons of executives who didn't listen.John Laye
Managing Partner

Contingency Management Consultants
[email protected]

Bravo, Barracuda

Thanks for the great review of spam filters ("Taking a Bite out of Spam," May 13, 2004). We went with your Editor's Choice and bought Barracuda Networks' Spam Firewall 300 after examining other products that offered fewer features for triple the price.

It didn't take us long to discover that 70 percent of the e-mail we get is junk.Phil Brossman

LAN/WAN Manager
The Health Plan
[email protected]

Correction

Adtran's NetVanta 1224STR switch-router ("Adtran Extends Its Reach to the LAN," June 24, 2004) supports OSPF routing if configured to do so from the command line.

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