More Than Coding Errors Behind Bad Software

An anonymous reader writes "SANS' just-released list of the Top 15 most dangerous programming errors obscures the real problem with software development today, argues InfoWeek's Alex Wolfe. In More Than Coding Mistakes At Fault In Bad Software, he lays the blame on PC developers (read: Microsoft) who kicked the time-honored waterfall model to the curb and replaced it not with object-oriented or agile development but with a 'modus operandi of cramming in as many features as possible, and then fixing problems in beta.' He argues that youthful programmers don't know about error-catching and lack a sense of history, suggesting they read Fred Brooks' 'The Mythical Man-Month,' and Gerald Weinberg's 'The Psychology of Computer Programming.'"

Comments

Re:Extensible Framework

[Anonymous Coward]

See: Eclipse

Re:When I was breaking in

[Bloke down the pub]

Oxford and Cambridge (they're in England) do mostly BAs, even for subjects like maths, physics and enginerering. Why is anybody's guess but it's probably because they're a bunch of tossers.

Re:grumpy old coder

[lawpoop]

Personally, I welcome anyone who wants to be a programmer. Show me you want to learn, and I will mentor you. I will also listen to your ideas and will likely learn something from your fresh insight.

Yikes, another geek who thinks God appointed him to teach everything to everyone. Oh, you'll let your young apprentice get a word in edgewise? How magnanimous of you! I'll bet you'll also wince patronizingly when s/he completes his thought.

I'm sick of finding myself becoming a Jedi padawan every time I ask some elder geek a damn question.