A significant amount of programming is done by superstition

Re:A significant amount of programming is done by superstition by prawn on Wednesday March 25, 2015 @07:43PM (#9266841)

Gall's Law for anyone who didn't know or couldn't remember it:

"A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over with a working simple system." – John Gall (1975)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:A significant amount of programming is done by superstition by fsloth on Thursday March 26, 2015 @05:34AM (#9268545)

Thanks for the reference, this is the best quote I've found in a long while. Strangely, I was unfamiliar with this.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:A significant amount of programming is done by superstition by ylem on Saturday March 28, 2015 @10:43PM (#9283671)

Incidentally, he passed away recently. He had a varied career and was actually my pediatrician and encouraged my interest in astronomy. I only learned at his death about his contributions to systems theory...

[ Parent | on HN ]