Flutterby™! : RIP Tom West

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RIP Tom West

2011-05-23 05:12:41.164873+02 by Dan Lyke 3 comments

RIP Tom West, made famous in Tracy Kidder's Soul of a New Machine[Wiki](which, I think, did tremendous damage to the practice of software development, but was a really good read), also Jessamyn's dad.

[ related topics: Invention and Design Software Engineering ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2011-05-23 21:29:00.617029+02 by: spc476

It's been a few years since I read Soul of a New Machine but what about it damaged the practice of software development? The soul crushing deadlines?

#Comment Re: made: 2011-05-23 22:15:06.306302+02 by: Dan Lyke

Yeah, and the idea that working 36 hour days could actually be productive. I bought into that for many years, and with the advantage of hindsight can now see that it's okay every once in a while if the flow is going well, but usually there's more harm than good comes out of pushing too hard.

#Comment Re: made: 2011-05-24 12:19:27.145771+02 by: meuon

I'm pushing for a couple of days.. Mixing schedules and deadlines in S. Africa and the Caribbean.. but I can't do it for more than a day or three. And then I need to have a down-day or two. I can force it when needed, but it is far better to only do it when the muse sings in your soul: Code.. Code.. Code..

It's a great read, educational, inspiring in some ways. Too many point haired types considered it as a business plan and human resources policy.

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