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Grex > Systems > #103: Why is software of such generally low quality? | |
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cross
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Why is software of such generally low quality?
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Feb 17 06:53 UTC 2009 |
This discussion came up on the well. I thought it might be interesting to
ask similar questions here.
Basically, the question is this: Why is software of such generally low
quality?
Thoughts?
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| 28 responses total. |
veek
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response 1 of 28:
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Feb 17 12:39 UTC 2009 |
lack of interest in what they do. pay based on factors not related to
quality. no regular testing of programming theory.
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cross
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response 2 of 28:
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Feb 17 15:57 UTC 2009 |
Those are certainly good answers, and all true; what else?
I will submit that at least part of it is an attitude that holds software
separate from other engineering disciplines, and in many ways superior to
them. It's an implied attitude that it's too difficult to get it right,
and that programmers should just be excused. It's an acceptance and
defense of the status quo.
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veek
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response 3 of 28:
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Feb 18 02:22 UTC 2009 |
(Ooo! yes! YES! Not just that it's too difficult to get it right - out
here both get it equally wrong)! It's revenue! Right now programming
pays WAY more than engineering! In fact out here, engineers are well.. a
guy with a B.Com will pass out, bone up on C at NIIT (some training
institute) and he is then ready to bill some aussie client millions of
dollars maintaining some software on a VAX. A engineer does the exact
same job, but he wasted 4 years learning Calculus and Algebra and knows
nothing about high-finance.
I haven't seen much acceptance or defense because everyone is happily
clueless (me included). I have this friend who is good at his work and
I've seen him code, his solution will be simple, clean and elegant and
he will do it really quick (3 hours). On the other hand I'll take
(literally 1 week), and It'll be so crappy, I'll get fed up and take it
to him. The thing is he has bitched about bad code at work and people
humor him.
The thing is, in the US, because you have lots of competent people who
have actually worked a lot on software, there is this good example that
is still visible and only then what you says holds true (managers see
the competent guys and go Oo.. that saves time and money)
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veek
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response 4 of 28:
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Feb 18 02:24 UTC 2009 |
so they can actually accept their fate and defend/attack the wrong
decision.. out here, no one knows better and because the money is
flowing in, they see no reason to change their shady ways
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keesan
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response 5 of 28:
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Feb 18 05:52 UTC 2009 |
I just talked to my brother the programmer and he did not know what a VGA port
looks like, but was able to identify the one on his laptop after I described
it. He has been doing software for 30 years or more. I described a midi port
as being longer than a VGA port, to start with. He found something with three
rows of holes on the back of the laptop. He once complained about the
doorknobs falling off the doors inside a house he and friends were renting.
I wonder if he even owns a screwdriver.
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remmers
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response 6 of 28:
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Feb 20 19:50 UTC 2009 |
Re the premise of resp:0 - There's wonderful software out there, and by
Sturgeon's Law, 90% of everything is crap. Is software different from
anything else in this respect?
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