TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:RE: The Never Ending Saga: Screenshots From:"Lin Sims" <linda -dot- sims -at- verizon -dot- net> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 7 Jun 2001 15:18:57 -0400
In December 1996, the magazine Fast Company did an article on
the programmers who develop software for the space shuttle. It was
(and is) a fascinating look at how it can be done if the time, effort,
and (oh, yes, you knew this was coming) money is put into the
project.
> So, until programmers learn how to refine the specs to near
> perfection, like mechanical engineers have been learning for a couple
> hundred years (my reference point is roughly placed somewhere around
> the start of the industrial revolution), code will change rapidly.
> Programmers have only been doing this for about 55 years. Software is
> still a maturing industry. Is there an incentive for coders to adopt
> the methods that mechanical engineers have learned over the years? It
> will probably only happen in software that lives depend upon (things
> like the space shuttle or life support systems) where the function is
> clearly defined beforehand. Those kinds of applications require tons
> of red tape to deviate from the original plan and programmers have the
> incentive to stick to the script.
Lin
Knowledge is Power.
Power Corrupts.
Study Hard. Be Evil.
*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com
Sponsored by Cub Lea, specialist in low-cost outsourced development
and documentation. Overload and time-sensitive jobs at exceptional
rates. Unique free gifts for all visitors to http://www.cublea.com
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
