A recent discussion on G+ prompted this blog post (which I’ve edited to make more sense in this context and took out the rant target’s name).

His insistence on using MEL over python isn’t “sticking to his guns”, this is harmful conservatism. It would be one thing if a TA said, ‘I don’t want to code in python.’ I’d say, “Fine, that’s foolish, here’s why python is better, you’re going to have trouble finding a job, but whatever dude.” But he isn’t a regular TA, he is a Senior User Experience Designer at Autodesk. His actions, inactions, preferences, and opinions, ultimately impact me directly. When a middleware company releases new technology, I expect thorough tutorials, I expect support, and expertise. I expect technology companies to lead a path forward- I am presumably using their technology because they can do a better job creating it than I can and I should have faith in them to understand the space. When senior personnel who are supposed to be experts in user experience provide none of this, because they have avoided learning and embracing the necessary skills, that is, to me, no longer just kidding and becomes a cause for real concern. It’s yet another symptom of the instituional incompetence (or malevolence?) that has characterized Autodesk over the past several years.

Could things be worse? Yes, he could be yet another Autodesk manager that comes out only to post a link to some shitty tech we never asked for. Instead, he at least is part of the community. That, to me, is the most important thing. But it doesn’t obscure the serious issues with his exclusively MEL approach.