Oh dear the "latter" referred to VME/K but got lost in my editing. Sorry about that.
Phil > -----Original Message----- > From: Phil Runciman > Sent: Tuesday, 16 June 2009 4:26 p.m. > To: python-list@python.org > Subject: RE: Good books in computer science? > > FWIW I actually dislike this book! Gasp... > > Much of the material is excellent but IBM got into the huge mess with > the 360. Brooks observed failure from the inside and IMHO did a great > job of it. > > Project managers can never rescue stuffed concepts especially if a > lot of money has been spent! Such projects have momentum and roll > over anyone who gets in the way. > > Brilliant architects are worth their weight in gold. I believe that > ICL's VME/B OS began as a skunk works project.* It had such an > architect. The LATTER was the official OS and was pretty good too. I > think Warboys took over later once VME/B became official... if anyone > out there knows better then please let us know and correct Wikipedia > too. The Wikipedia item on VME is too sanitised for my taste. The > "truth" is generally far more interesting. > > If the software you are developing is going to be used by many people > then remaining sharp and on top of your game is so important. Do not > program if you are tired or you will spend your life debugging. ;-) I > stop coding at 3pm for this reason. I come right again around 10pm! > > Yes, despite the above, do read the book, but remember that among the > content is a cautionary tale! > > Ooops, the above is a bit away from Python. ;-) > > > Phil > > > *I was told this by the leader an ICL research team, no less than > Alan Sutcliffe himself... many years ago now. (c. May/June 1970) > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Roy Smith [mailto:r...@panix.com] > Sent: Sunday, 14 June 2009 2:21 p.m. > Subject: Re: Good books in computer science? > > In article <mailman.1534.1244926333.8015.python-l...@python.org>, > "Rhodri James" <rho...@wildebst.demon.co.uk> wrote: > > > The Mythical Man-Month (Brooks) is a must. > > What's amazing about this book is just how relevant it is today, 35 > years > after it was written. Some of the technical details have changed > (how many > of us still keep our project notes on microfiche?), but cross out > "microfiche" and write in "wiki" and what he's saying is just as > valid > today. It's not about computer science. It's not really even about > software engineering. It's more about general project management > than > anything else. > > In the same vein, Death March, by Ed Yourdon. -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
