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On Situated Software - Designing For The Few?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the for-you-and-you-and-you dept.

janbjurstrom writes "Clay Shirky has published a thought-provoking (and long) essay discussing the concept of 'situated software', musing on changes in software development, from general systems catering to thousands towards applications 'form-fitted' to small, specific groups and particular social contexts. A lot of interesting observations about the differences." Shirky argues: "Most software built for large numbers of users or designed to last indefinitely fails at both goals anyway. Situated software is a way of saying 'Most software gets only a few users for a short period; why not take advantage of designing with that in mind?'"

7 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. I'd say by mihal · · Score: 1, Funny

    Everyone must write a new program every time he wants to do anything.
    And never reuse the code or use the same program twice.

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    Sig. No Sig.
  2. Also Known As... by femto · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Quick Hack.

  3. He's right, this is exactly why... by Boss,+Pointy+Haired · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...small project teams in big companies end up developing sophisticated Excel Spreadsheets.

  4. I think you forgot something. by Zutroi_Zatatakowsky · · Score: 1, Funny

    Er guys? Did you know which day it is? I mean, what's up with all those interesting and important news?!
    It's 01/04, don't ruin my day, Slashdot!

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    All Hail Discordia. Hail Eris. Fnord.
  5. No wonder /. doesn't work so well by whimdot · · Score: 3, Funny

    Too many users and the social fabric has broken down. The application has attempted to scale and it copes, in so much as the servers staying up is a measure of success. But look at the contents these days.

  6. Re:Everything old is new again by polymath69 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Why don't you try googling for Mar 19104 if you think there are no unresolved Y2K problems?

    Some things were prevented from breaking -- most of the major issues. Some things broke but were quickly corrected. And some things, as that search will show you, broke and are still broken.

    --

    --
    I don't want to rule the world... I just want to be in charge of mayonnaise.
  7. Re:New software scaling needs in distribution... by theCat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Indeed, I've been ruined countless times, in just that manner. Shameless.

    theCat

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    =^..^= all your rodent are belong to us