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Our civilization runs on software


From the " Handbook of Software Architecture":

" Software is invisible to most of the world . Although individuals, organizations, and nations rely on a multitude of software-intensive systems every day, most software lives in the interstitial spaces of society, hidden from view except insofar as it does something tangible or useful.

Despite its transparency, as Bjarne Stroustrup has observed, 'our civilization runs on software.' It is therefore a tremendous privilege as well as a deep responsibility to be a software developer. It is a privilege because what we do collectively as an industry has changed and will continue to change the world. It is a responsibility because the world in turn relies on the products of our labor in so many ways".

Go read it and then rethink development resources and project management.

Posted by on 02 June 2005 | Comments (2) | categories: Software

Comments

  1. posted by Brian Benz on Saturday 04 June 2005 AD:
    Interesting...I guess that's better than my analogy of XML being the high fructose corn syrup of the software world - quietly replacing other formats behind the scenes, like HFCS has quietly replaced sugar in most sweetened food and drink.....
  2. posted by icelava on Sunday 05 June 2005 AD:
    Problem is, to most developers (or more acurrately, programmers), it is just a job to them. Sad but true, most don't perceive the value of their contribution to make others' lives easier.