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Re:Holding a program in one's head by alex_c on Thursday August 23, 2007 @03:01PM (#45774)
Very good essay.

The only part I don't really agree with is the implicit condemnation of programming done by large companies. Yes, their methods result in mediocre software, but that's often what you want. There's a reason they try to treat programmers as interchangeable cogs, and resist having an entire program in one person's head.

To use the tired "building a house" metaphor - you can get a renowned architect to design the next landmark in a city, or you can get mediocre, interchangeable architects to design a row of townhouses. Both approaches are valid and have their own place, but there's no point asking the famous architect to build townhouses.

Re:Holding a program in one's head by ratsbane on Thursday August 23, 2007 @03:15PM (#45780)
A poorly laid-out neighborhood of shoddily-built slums? I think that's a rather good analogy for corporate IT.
Re:Holding a program in one's head by blored on Friday August 24, 2007 @02:47AM (#46085)
Is ClutterMe a townhouse or a landmark?