Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programmers

This episode investigates a philosophical shift in the way people tried to understand software towards the end of the 20th century, and then discusses one of the most impactful, if not widely adored, documents of the post-shift era. The episode … Continue reading →

This episode discusses both Fred Brooks’ classic paper on the likelihood of 10x improvements in software engineering productivity, and his reflections on its interpretation 9 years after publication. The episode is supported by members of the Chiron Codex Patreon (use this gift … Continue reading →

This episode considers a method-free approach to software engineering methodology, and a request to include the context of a software project in the attempts to sell techniques and processes. The episode is supported by members of the Chiron Codex Patreon (use this … Continue reading →

This episode looks at the origin of design patterns in software, their development, and the limited exposure many software engineers have to the idea. The episode is supported by members of the Chiron Codex Patreon (use this gift link for your first … Continue reading →

This episode discusses the final section of the 1969 software engineering techniques conference report…eventually, after discussing how statistics does or doesn’t work. I also reflect on both conferences, and what it means that the experts in 1968-1969 told us how … Continue reading →

This episode continues a review of the 1969 conference on software engineering techniques looking at software adaptability, large software projects, and software engineering education. The episode is supported by members of the Chiron Codex Patreon (use this gift link for your first … Continue reading →

This episode is the first to discuss the 1969 NATO conference on Software Engineering Techniques. We find out that there isn’t a NATO-sponsored international institute of software engineering, though only a little about why; that computer scientists and software engineers … Continue reading →

This episode reaches the end of the 1968 conference, discussing Alan Perlis’s keynote address and submitted papers by Doug McIlroy, Edgser Dijkstra, and more. I summarise the impact of the conference on software engineering, and get ready to investigate the … Continue reading →

We’re closing in on the end of the 1968 conference report, in this section discussion software service, maintenance, and other “special topics” including educating software engineers, and whether it’s reasonable to pay for software at all. Along the way, we … Continue reading →

This episode digs into the problems of software design and software production as perceived in the 1968 conference, most urgently: just what are software design and software production? The episode is supported by members of the Chiron Codex Patreon (use this … Continue reading →