Friday, July 03, 2009
Recent tweet by a coder I know (VS2008)
Discouraged by version control
I think I'm just going to go back to the old way: compressed archives of (few) directories.
For those who ask, indignantly, and not on this blog because comment count is almost negative, about the multi-member team working on massive software, I reply: The Rule Of Modularity (http://www.faqs.org/docs/artu/ch01s06.html#id2877537), which I transcribe here purely for effect.
As Brian Kernighan once observed, “Controlling complexity is the essence of computer programming” [Kernighan-Plauger]. Debugging dominates development time, and getting a working system out the door is usually less a result of brilliant design than it is of managing not to trip over your own feet too many times.
Assemblers, compilers, flowcharting, procedural programming, structured programming, “artificial intelligence”, fourth-generation languages, object orientation, and software-development methodologies without number have been touted and sold as a cure for this problem. All have failed as cures, if only because they ‘succeeded’ by escalating the normal level of program complexity to the point where (once again) human brains could barely cope. As Fred Brooks famously observed [Brooks], there is no silver bullet.
The only way to write complex software that won't fall on its face is to hold its global complexity down — to build it out of simple parts connected by well-defined interfaces, so that most problems are local and you can have some hope of upgrading a part without breaking the whole.
On writing software.
On thinking in
I left a comment there:
http://myownhat.blogspot.com/2009/07/help-how-do-you-do-test-driven-design.html
See also: http://chrismahan.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
I've just made another interesting deviation while rereading the above. The rulers in Dune relied on the mentats to best determinate long-term strategy, as well as implementation details. The elder Herbert continues to amaze me.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thoughts on Iran, June 20 2009 10:57PM
I am deeply proud of the courage and dedication shown by the protesters. I feel honored to be able to witness their courage and sacrifice.
I think the regime is not using the army and the revolutionary guards because they would turn to the opposition. If there is widespread death today, the army and revolutionary guards will swing into action. No doubt of that. I am sure they are getting everything ready in the barracks for a long fight.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Iran power struggle switching sides?
Personal opinion from web-wide look:
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be replaced, as well as Ahmadinejad.
The police and army will side with peaceful demonstrators and Basiji will be blamed for worst of violence, shootings.
Iran will remain Islamic country, but with a much better understanding of democracy.
Iran
The rest of the news media are playing catchup.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Lessons in Leadership from the USS Nimitz
Impressive.
No wonder we're safe.