BSD Certification Group press release

[Anthony Atkielski]

Astrodog writes:

> Have you considered, that a certification program done in an open
> manner could be incredibly helpful for FreeBSD?

If so, it would be a historical first.  I've never seen any
certification program do that for anything.

> You're making some rather large assumptions, the primary one being
> that the creation and design of the certification tests will be closed
> and no one except the arbiters will be involved.

I think it's safe to assume that the group creating and designing the
tests will be far smaller than the group expected to take and pass the
tests.  And offhand I can't think of who would actually be objectively
qualified to design the tests in the first place.

> The reason certifications are required in some cases is that lets face
> it, you COULD be full of shit and know nothing about whatever product
> it is.

Not if an employer or client investigates your claims.  And if he
doesn't, certification won't make any difference, anyway.

I'm not even sure what you'd certify for FreeBSD ... it's practically
identical to the other BSDs, which in turn are practically identical to
all other forms of UNIX.  Why would anyone seek out a FreeBSD or BSD
certification _specifically_?

> Not only does this hurt whoever hires you, but it hurts whoever
> provides the product you're lying about.

If people lie about experience and their clients don't check up, what
would prevent them from lying about certification (which their clients
wouldn't check up, either)?

> As far as the last comment.... People complain about certifications?

Some do.  Certifications, like unions, are attempts to artificially
inflate and/or support a job market through closed-shop restrictions.

-- 
Anthony