Dmitry, Yes, it is indeed pathetic that I need to "invent a completely new ontology...to justify [my] point."
Welcome to the terminology hell that is software. You'll notice that I spend an inordinate amount of words in all of my books and articles clearing out a semantic space where I can make my points free of mistaken meanings. You'll also notice, including from this very thread, just how ineffective it is. Thanx, Alan __________ cooper | Product Design for a Digital World Alan Cooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] | www.cooper.com All information in this message is proprietary & confidential. "There is no country with a military so powerful, an economy so strong, and a culture so great that its politicians cannot pull it down." - Donald Gilbert Carpenter -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dmitry Nekrasovski Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 11:49 AM To: Rich Rogan Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Alan Cooper on Software Design: Code=Design? Amen Rich. While reading this article, I've tried very had to understand why Alan has gone to the lengths of inventing a completely new ontology of software development to justify his point. The only reason I can think of is that, to a person who is not familiar with basic principles of software engineering (e.g. a business stakeholder), the article might sound like a magical fix for all the complexity and uncertainty that typically plagues software development projects. Just "segregate engineers who like to design software from engineers who like to build software". Preferably build a wall between them. Sounds easy, doesn't it? ;) As a counterpoint to notions like this, I highly recommend Fred Brooks's classic No Silver Bullet paper: http://tinyurl.com/yv8kqj Dmitry On 10/30/07, Rich Rogan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > In Coopers article he seems to "Jump the Shark", (makes assumptions that > have little relevance to most companies I've worked for), when he writes: > > "Of course you can see how both of these problems, (engineers don't know > how/can't follow design), would stem from the same root: if a programmer has > never learned to follow a written design, then he would structure his daily > work to do without. He would attempt to do the necessary design himself, > concurrent with the construction effort. *And that is exactly what > programmers at all levels and in all sub-disciplines of computer programming > do*: *they design code at the same time as they build it.* If we could > untangle these two parts of the programming job, we could begin to defeat > the apocalyptic horsemen." > > He then goes on to identify two types of engineers which I have always heard > called "Engineers", (Cooper calls them "builders") and "Architects", (Cooper > calls them "designers"). > > Every place I've worked at/heard of, that was a professional/respectable > software co., not in ultra start up mode, did upfront design, besides > "Architectural Software" design. It seems he is implying that "Interaction > Design" as a profession is some new concept, which few software > engineers/projects have heard of or incorporate. > > This seems to be very old news, and not really relevant in todays market, or > do I just work for ultra bleeding edge organizations when it comes to > process? I like Alan's premise of promoting our discipline, but he seems to > be looking from the past, (very far past in SW terms - 10 yrs back or so). > > Did anyone else get this from the article? > \ > ________________________________________________________________ > *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* > February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA > Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://gamma.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://gamma.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://gamma.ixda.org/help > ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... 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