IBM's Rational software development environment ain't the tool for any old fool. It's the weapone of thoice for the ultra-cool, according to the IBM Rational Anthem, which also points out that Rational developers are so good, they are the best in all the 'hood.

It's certainly a big change from the days of the staid old IBM Marching Song from 50 years ago, a long-time IT Anthems favourite. .

The Anthem seems to have appeared at Rational's UK software developers' conference iat IBM's Bedfont Lakes site in September), an event which also featureed legendary software engineer, Grady Booch.

The song previously appeared at Rational's US conference in 2006. In 2007, according to the video, US Rational developers spent their conference time jiving and swimming with mermaids.

This year's UK conference video tells a more earnest story of snacking and talking.

Here are the full lyrics of the splendid anthem (rhymes may need debugging). Excellent work, dudes!

THE RATIONAL ANTHEM LYRICS

We are the winners
Who rule the road
We are the wiz-kids
Writing code

Code that rocks,
Code that crackles
Code that’s way above
Any known shackles

We know no bug
We know no snag
There’s an answer to everything
In the Rational bag!

Our code zips,
It gets no slag
‘Cos it always comes
With the Rational tag!

We do what we do,
And we do it good
We are the best…
In all the ‘hood!

CHORUS:
We are Rational
And we love making software that rocks!

Design, develop,
deploy, and deliver
Rational’s so cool
It’ll make you a believer!

Smooth, savvy,
safe and sturdy!
Rational’s the tool
That makes life a pardy!

CHORUS:
We are Rational
And we love making software that rocks!

Rational ain’t the tool
For any old fool
It’s the weapon of choice
For the ultra cool

There are those who talk
And those who walk,
Then there is Rational
That makes software rock!

CHORUS:
We are Rational
And we love making software that rocks!