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Uncle Bob's true value to me was to teach me how bad of shape the software world really is in. Look at any engineering discipline. There are standards, there's
by ncds42 9y ago
Uncle Bob's true value to me was to teach me how bad of shape the software world really is in. Look at any engineering discipline. There are standards, there's a rigorous design process, there's checks from more experienced engineers, there are best practices, etc. Software is like the wild west, and if people don't realize that and try to create some sort of standard than eventually someone with no knowledge of the field will. He's trying to encourage people to understand the problem and think towards creating rules so everyone can perform and collaborate better. Eventually software will become like other more established fields but it's up to our generations to take us there.
- emilecantin 9y agoI think his main point is that we don't see MBAs supervising the construction of a bridge, why do we let them supervise the creation of software? A civil engineer has sufficient organizational clout to push back on unrealistic deadlines when managing a project, but software engineers don't have this level of recognition. The way to be recognized as professionnals, according to him, is to start acting like one.
- AlexCoventry 9y ago> if people don't realize that and try to create some sort of standard than eventually someone with no knowledge of the field will. I don't think so... No one's hunting down and calling to account the engineers responsible for the Equifax breach, and nor should they. The problem is blatantly a leadership and resource-allocation issue, and is being treated as such.
- ncds42 9y agoBad software has done worse things than release private info. Just a few worse things: failed space missions and cost NASA credibility, killed hospital patients, bankrupt Knight Capital, almost caused World War III due to a false-positive nuclear-launch warning, caused wide-spread blackouts, killed people (lookup Patriot Missile). We as developers are just waiting for something so terrible to happen that someone is forced to take notice.