Software Craftsmanship

Bart Massey 2013-12-03

Overview

• Daily WTF CSoD: http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Exceptionally-Hard-to-Swallow.aspx

• Craftsmanship

• Review of Craftsmanship Activities

What Is Craftsmanship?

• (First of all, one of those gender-incorrect terms)

• Craftsmanship is practiced by skilled practitioners of a craft

  • A craft is "an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands" (Merriam-Webster)

  • Combines engineering with construction

"In a Skillful Way"

• Attributes of craft:

  • Quality of product is recognizable by other craftfolk

  • Quality product is produced quickly and reliably even in the face of significant obstacles

  • The necessary skills can be taught (usually by co-practice)

  • Mastery takes significant time

  • The process cannot be easily automated to good effect

10K Hours

• Current "wisdom" (sort of) is that it take 10K hours to become a grandmaster of something

• Regardless of the number, it is clear that craftsmanship is the result of repeated experience and effort

Art, Science, Engineering, Manufacturing

• There is a big overlap between craft and these other things

  • Art:

    • Taste is an inevitable part of craft
    • Communication is an important part of most craft

  • Science: Craft can sometimes be surplanted by science

  • Manufacturing: Craft may or may not be wanted / needed

• Engineering: One might expect a level split with crafting here

"With Your Hands": Software Craftsmanship

• At first glance, software doesn't look like a craft

  • At second glance, one notes that it is quite "hands-on"

• However, atoms vs bits is an important distinction

  • Quality metrics are different

  • Scope of construction is vastly different

  • Most complicated crafting ever

• Individual vs "group craft"

The Book View

• Manage Complexity
• Manage Process and Practices
• Write Programs For People First
• Program Into Your Language
• Use Conventions [and Idiom]
• Program In The Problem Domain
• Pay Attention To Smells and Omens
• Use Iteration and Risk Management
• Avoid "Religion"

The Guild

• Last thing to keep in mind: you are not alone

  • Portland tech community is exemplary
  • Open source community is exemplary

• Big part of craft is communication among crafters