Software Aesthetics

cconnell writes: "Most software design is lousy. Most software is so bad, in fact, that if it were a bridge, no one in his or her right mind would walk across it. If it were a house, we would be afraid to enter. The only reason we (software engineers) get away with this scam is the general public cannot see inside of software systems. If software design were as visible as a bridge or house, we would be hiding our heads in shame. This article is a challenge to engineers, managers, executives and software users (which is everyone) to raise our standards about software. We should expect the same level of quality and performance in software we demand in physical construction. Instead of trying to create software that works in a minimal sense, we should be creating software that has internal beauty." We had a good discussion on a related topic half a year ago.

Comments

I Can see the point...

[sl3xd]

I can see the point, but why bother if we can't even get the courts to recognize the artistry involved in writing software?

An architect can get rights on his design as free speech, and artistic expression.

Software designers get no such credit.

And the quality HTML award goes to...

[Brazilian]

... Charles Connell, for creating more "lousy" software. Call me crazy, but I would think that if you wanted to rant about "lousy" software you'd have the presence of mind to write decent-enough HTML so that the character " didn't show up as ? and bullets didn't show up as the character Y.

Re:XP!

[circletimessquare]

If everyone used XP, the software world would be a better place!

OK, who let Mr. Gates post on Slashdot? ;-)

From Proud Geek's bio:

I am an experienced web developer and Perl hacker. It's great; I get laid to have fun and use Linux all day!

OK, this is definitely not Bill's profile.

You are lucky Proud Geek! My code would be the most aesthetically pleasing code in the world if I could get "laid" to use Linux all day and not just "paid." (Cheers, no meanness meant ;-)