Just to clarify two small points (which, apparently, were not clear in what I wrote :-( ).
Russel Winder wrote: > Derek said: > >> > But the purpose of software development is not to create a cadre >> > of good programmers, but to make money for their employers. >> > > I think this statement misses the point and lines up too easily the > statements Frank made. However, I think Frank's comments also missed > the point. > > Frank replied: > >>The *purpose* of software development is to develop software. That >>business currently finds this useful is a bonus, and helpful to >>those who'd like to earn a living from it. Even if business didn't >>find it useful, it's still an interesting and legitimate field of >>study and research, for many reasons. But the purpose of >>software development is certainly not to make money, any more >>than the purpose of, say, the performing arts is to make money, even >>though they can be used for that. >> > > The purpose of any software development within a commercial/industrial > context must be to further some aspect of the business. Perhaps I was being over-pedantic (assuming that's possible); I was referring to software development per se, not just development in a business context, since Derek didn't qualify his definition explicitly. I wanted to make it clear (!) that thinking about software development shouldn't be limited to thinking about how it provides business benefits. > Also whilst creating software is a human inspirational activity to try > and connect software development and performing art seems detrimental to > both since it implies metrics on both that are totally inappropriate. I wasn't trying to connect s/w development with performing arts, but rather was trying to find something that was, in principle, as orthogonal to business as an activity, while being exploitable by it. I guess it's a good job I didn't go with my first choice, which was 'sex'. :-) -- Frank Wales [[EMAIL PROTECTED]] - Automatic footer for [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe discuss To join the announcements list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe announce To receive a help file, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] help This list is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss%40ppig.org/ If you have any problems or questions, please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
