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assuming that having to evaluate people for raises and promotions is a given - what's the alternative?

... by looking at their accomplishments?

Ultimately, productivity is not about how many tools/frameworks/languages/etc. you claim to "know". It's about what you can do with what you know.

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... by looking at their accomplishments?

Absolutely agree, but with the caveat that the software world currently seems to be on something of a "teamwork is everything" kick which can sometimes obfuscate what individuals are capable of. So judge results -- but be sure everyone is getting a chance to spread their wings at least some of the time.

Exactly that. You do agile, you do teamwork is everything, but at the same time you see people perform at more than their pay grade and you want to promote them. Some modicum of objectivity is needed - accomplishments are _mostly_ the team's accomplishments (I guess that is the main reason we all want lunch&learn talks, so you have some individual accomplishments), so looking at skills seems to be a decent next best thing.

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