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Patterns of Software: Tales from the Software Community
In our homes, our schools, and our businesses, computers play an ever-increasing role. But while most of us today can work a computer--albeit with the help of the ever-present computer software manual--we know little about what goes on inside the box and virtually nothing about software design
or the world of computer programming.
In Patterns of Software , the respected software pioneer and computer scientist, Richard Gabriel, gives us an informative inside look at the world of software design and computer programming and the business that surrounds them. In this wide-ranging volume, Gabriel discusses such topics as what
makes a successful programming language, how the rest of the world looks at and responds to the work of computer scientists, how he first became involved in computer programming and software development, what makes a successful software business, and why his own company, Lucid, failed in 1994, ten
years after its inception.
Perhaps the most interesting and enlightening section of the book is Gabriel's detailed look at what he believes are the lessons that can be learned from architect Christopher Alexander, whose books--including the seminal A Pattern Language --have had a profound influence on the computer programming
community. Gabriel illuminates some of Alexander's key insights--"the quality without a name," pattern languages, habitability, piecemeal growth--and reveals how these influential architectural ideas apply equally well to the construction of a computer program. Gabriel explains the concept of
habitability, for example, by comparing a program to a New England farmhouse and the surrounding structures which slowly grow and are modified according to the needs and desires of the people who live and work on the farm. "Programs live and grow, and their inhabitants--the programmers--need to work
with that program the way the farmer works with the homestead."
Although computer scientists and software entrepreneurs will get much out of this book, the essays are accessible to everyone and will intrigue anyone curious about Silicon Valley, computer programming, or the world of high technology.
or the world of computer programming.
In Patterns of Software , the respected software pioneer and computer scientist, Richard Gabriel, gives us an informative inside look at the world of software design and computer programming and the business that surrounds them. In this wide-ranging volume, Gabriel discusses such topics as what
makes a successful programming language, how the rest of the world looks at and responds to the work of computer scientists, how he first became involved in computer programming and software development, what makes a successful software business, and why his own company, Lucid, failed in 1994, ten
years after its inception.
Perhaps the most interesting and enlightening section of the book is Gabriel's detailed look at what he believes are the lessons that can be learned from architect Christopher Alexander, whose books--including the seminal A Pattern Language --have had a profound influence on the computer programming
community. Gabriel illuminates some of Alexander's key insights--"the quality without a name," pattern languages, habitability, piecemeal growth--and reveals how these influential architectural ideas apply equally well to the construction of a computer program. Gabriel explains the concept of
habitability, for example, by comparing a program to a New England farmhouse and the surrounding structures which slowly grow and are modified according to the needs and desires of the people who live and work on the farm. "Programs live and grow, and their inhabitants--the programmers--need to work
with that program the way the farmer works with the homestead."
Although computer scientists and software entrepreneurs will get much out of this book, the essays are accessible to everyone and will intrigue anyone curious about Silicon Valley, computer programming, or the world of high technology.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
September 14, 2024
Un llibre que en realitat son molts llibres, ja que cada secció parla de coses prou diferents entre sí. Tot i així veus que el fil conductor son les idees de l'autor. No he acabat la última part però el dono per tancat i m'emporto coses positives. Intento fer un resum/review de cada part:
Pattern language: les fumades del Christopher Alexander portades al mon del software. Hauria preferit no intentar portar-ho a la programació, ja que la història d'aquest arquitecte és prou interessant de per sí. A més, moltes idees dels anys 90' ja no apliquen tan avui en dia.
Languages: No té tan interès aquesta part, simplement la reflexió que els llenguatges de programació son eines i cadascun té les seves característiques.
What We Do (writing broadside): En resum ve a dir que tothom ha de practicar d'escriure. Aquesta part és la que més m'ha inspirat per escriure i aprendre a fer-ho millor. Bé, per començar a fer-ho (estem en ello).
Life of the critic: autobiografia molt entretinguda. És un home que li han posat pals a les rodes a la seva carrera acadèmica, i que sempre ha tirat endavant fent grans esforços durant un període de temps concentrat. Més raons per voler fugir del món acadèmic :)
Recomanable si us agrada alguna cosa intensa i més filosòfica/reflexió sobre idees.
Pattern language: les fumades del Christopher Alexander portades al mon del software. Hauria preferit no intentar portar-ho a la programació, ja que la història d'aquest arquitecte és prou interessant de per sí. A més, moltes idees dels anys 90' ja no apliquen tan avui en dia.
Languages: No té tan interès aquesta part, simplement la reflexió que els llenguatges de programació son eines i cadascun té les seves característiques.
What We Do (writing broadside): En resum ve a dir que tothom ha de practicar d'escriure. Aquesta part és la que més m'ha inspirat per escriure i aprendre a fer-ho millor. Bé, per començar a fer-ho (estem en ello).
Life of the critic: autobiografia molt entretinguda. És un home que li han posat pals a les rodes a la seva carrera acadèmica, i que sempre ha tirat endavant fent grans esforços durant un període de temps concentrat. Més raons per voler fugir del món acadèmic :)
Recomanable si us agrada alguna cosa intensa i més filosòfica/reflexió sobre idees.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review