Category: PMSE

Pitfall: confusing prototypes with finished products »

[From Pitfalls of Modern Software Engineering by Bruce F. Webster (forthcoming)] CATEGORIES: conceptual, managerial Make no mistake: modern software development techniques and methodologies, combined with powerful user-interface classes and software development tools, can greatly speed application development. However, they also allow application prototypes to be put together and demonstrated very quickly. This is great for [...]

Pitfall: Confusing training with skill »

[From Pitfalls of Modern Software Engineering by Bruce F. Webster (forthcoming)] CATEGORIES: conceptual Training is the acquisition of information and practices geared toward a certain end. For example, send a group of engineers to a conference with seminars on object technology, hold a class on C++ programming, or give them a set of books and [...]

Pitfall: Confusing tools with principles »

[From Pitfalls of Modern Software Engineering by Bruce F. Webster (forthcoming)] CATEGORIES: conceptual Using tools designed for a given technology or methodology (”the TOM”) does not mean that the project will follow solid TOM principles, any more than sitting in (or even driving) an Indy-class race car qualifies you for the Indy Racing League circuit. [...]

Pitfall: Confusing buzzwords with concepts »

[From Pitfalls of Modern Software Engineering by Bruce F. Webster (forthcoming)] CATEGORIES: conceptual Every technology or methodology (“TOM”) has its own jargon to act as linguistic shorthand. These can be new terms and phrases created specifically for the TOM, or they can be existing words and phrases adapted for the TOM. And such jargon serves [...]

Pitfall: Thinking a new technology or methodology will solve all your IT problems »

[From Pitfalls of Modern Software Engineering by Bruce F. Webster (forthcoming)] CATEGORIES: organizational, conceptual The software development process–creating software to solve a particular problem–is long and complex and has many activities and stages. The exact list will vary depending on what book or article you read but can generally be said to include the following: [...]