Computer science is also not a science. I have never seen it proved that on a day to day basis that the scientific method is applicable to most software. Yes, you can prove certain algorithms and even use software to do other genres of science like astronomy or physics. But the creation of websites, accounting systems, and even control systems for rockets and washing machines is not a science.
So, what is this blog/book about? The focus on the psychology of software development. It is also meant to make you laugh. Laughing about computer science is pretty easy. Their are so many mistakes it is like the Keystone Cops. Rockets to Mars miss because of decimal points. Whole stock markets crash because we let the computer run amuck. We also torture the poor users with horrible designs. There is a lot to giggle about here.
What I want to accomplish is the education of managers and developers about the little hobgoblins of the mind that cause software to be so incredibly bad. We want to ask important questions here and solve some (we hope) with the light of examination and a little psychology. Here are just a few we will cover:
- How do developers create those bad interfaces?
- Why doesn't the software do what I want?
- Why does my computer crash?
- Why do developers seem to be insane?
- What methods can we use to create great software?
- Why doesn't the latest language or software process fix these problems?
It won't be easy. In fact for some developers this will seem outright insulting at first. For managers it may be comforting, but you may still be at the mercy of your developers. No promises because change, especially of long term habits, is slow.
So, stay tuned. We have a great deal to talk about. Send me descriptions of your nightmares or even your successes if by a miracle you had one or two. We are all in this together.
If you are still a kid. Go ahead and read this blog. Maybe it will help you avoid this profession.
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