Steve McConnell
Steve McConnell
Steven C. McConnell is an author of software engineering textbooks such as Code Complete, Rapid Development, and Software Estimation. He is cited as an expert in software engineering and project management...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAuthor
CountryUnited States of America
Steve McConnell quotes about
bear research software
The software engineering research really does not bear out this idea." ()
available benefit best complex decision family greatly information plan selecting supplement tool
Selecting the best available plan is a complex decision and family caregivers and friends will benefit greatly from this tool as a supplement to other information available on the Web." ()
funny-inspirational add documentation
Good code is its own best documentation. As you're about to add a comment, ask yourself, "How can I improve the code so that this comment isn't needed?" Improve the code and then document it to make it even clearer.
code-quality errors simplicity
Testing by itself does not improve software quality. Test results are an indicator of quality, but in and of themselves, they don't improve it. Trying to improve software quality by increasing the amount of testing is like trying to lose weight by weighing yourself more often. What you eat before you step onto the scale determines how much you will weigh, and the software development techniques you use determine how many errors testing will find. If you want to lose weight, don't buy a new scale; change your diet. If you want to improve your software, don't test more; develop better.
technology documentation programming
Good code is its own best documentation.
dirty long forgotten
The trouble with quick and dirty is that dirty remains long after quick has been forgotten.
engineering principles ends
Engineering is the application of scientific principles toward practical ends. If the engineering isn't practical, it's bad engineering.
teamwork jobs average
The job of the average manager requires a shift in focus every few minutes. The job of the average software developer requires that the developer not shift focus more often than every few hours.
teamwork strong together
In software, the chain isn't as strong as its weakest link; it's as weak as all the weak links multiplied together.
design force brutes
A brute force solution that works is better than an elegant solution that doesn't work.
murder-mysteries able needs
It's OK to figure out murder mysteries, but you shouldn't need to figure out code. You should be able to read it.
mistake blanket biggest-mistake
A blanket attempt to avoid mistakes is the biggest mistake of all.
trying development formal
Trying to apply formal methods to all software projects is just as bad as trying to apply code-and-fix development to all projects.
mistake opportunity people
A typical software project can present more opportunities to learn from mistakes than some people get in a lifetime.