New Delhi Times

Gaurav Bhatnagar reporting from New Delhi, India

The Software Developers’ Manifesto

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[in response to this]

1. YOU are not the user but do try to be one

Rarely is software written by those who will use it. So let us ask the user what she wants. Let us stop building features because we love them. Let us at least attempt to use what we build.

2. The user is not stupid

The user may not be computer savvy. But she is not stupid. If she can’t use what we build, it is our fault. If we she can’t be productive with our software, it is our fault. If software doesn’t work the way most people expect it to, it is our fault.

3. If it doesn’t work then how well it was written doesn’t matter

Beautiful code does not equal usable software. We must learn to separate code from software. Well written, well documented, scalable, extensible code is fine but its the SOFTWARE which matters. Sorry to disappoint you but while code does matter, software matters more.

4. The converse of 3 is true

Let us stop cribbing about how poorly Windows is developed. Or how slow Office is. Millions of people swear by that software. That software changes lives. So what is the under the covers doesn’t matter if it works for the user.

5. Stop being a geek

Seriously. Let us stop it. Let us play less video games. Let us go out more. Take bath everyday. Let us be normal people. Maybe then we can really build what they want. :)

Written by gaurav

December 19th, 2006 at 10:57 pm

Posted in Technology

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  • Jagat

    Absolutely true Gaurav, The objective behind making software is to automate the business, reducing manpower and time. At he same time you need the piece of the software should provide the functionality and ease to the user.
    writing code to do a specific task seems easy, but when it comes to real time it will always tailed by so many “ifs and buts”. So even if you tried to be one of the user to see how your code works…. you can solve 70% cases.

  • Jagat

    Absolutely true Gaurav, The objective behind making software is to automate the business, reducing manpower and time. At he same time you need the piece of the software should provide the functionality and ease to the user.
    writing code to do a specific task seems easy, but when it comes to real time it will always tailed by so many “ifs and buts”. So even if you tried to be one of the user to see how your code works…. you can solve 70% cases.

  • http://paddyfieldprincess.blogspot.com Marutham

    // Let us stop it. Let us play less video games. Let us go out more. Take bath everyday. Let us be normal people. Maybe then we can really build what they want// Sir yes SIR!! :D Nice post!!

  • http://paddyfieldprincess.blogspot.com Marutham

    // Let us stop it. Let us play less video games. Let us go out more. Take bath everyday. Let us be normal people. Maybe then we can really build what they want// Sir yes SIR!! :D Nice post!!

  • http://totobogy.netfirms.com Tushar Malhotra

    Amen!

  • http://totobogy.netfirms.com Tushar Malhotra

    Amen!

  • http://www.paavani.in/blog Paavani

    IT geeks becoming normal people! Lets see :)

  • http://www.paavani.in/blog Paavani

    IT geeks becoming normal people! Lets see :)

  • http://cs.stanford.edu/people/thathoo Rahul Thathoo

    Totally agree with you on all counts! I feel such things should be taught at school(college) with a higher emphasis than is seen today, that is, if at all professors think the need to teach such stuff!

  • http://cs.stanford.edu/people/thathoo Rahul Thathoo

    Totally agree with you on all counts! I feel such things should be taught at school(college) with a higher emphasis than is seen today, that is, if at all professors think the need to teach such stuff!

  • Parakram Khandpur

    Good software is both useful (in terms of its features) as well as usable. Developers often focus only on the ‘usefulness’ i.e. adding newer/cooler features and don’t pay much attention to usability.
    The Design of everyday things by Donald Norman is a great book on designing products. I guess quite a few ideas are applicable to software as well.

  • Parakram Khandpur

    Good software is both useful (in terms of its features) as well as usable. Developers often focus only on the ‘usefulness’ i.e. adding newer/cooler features and don’t pay much attention to usability.
    The Design of everyday things by Donald Norman is a great book on designing products. I guess quite a few ideas are applicable to software as well.

  • http://www.itasveer.com Ashish

    Hey Gaurav,
    Go here: http://www.changethis.com
    Also, I think your blog will end up sending a lot of traffic to http://www.newdelhitimes.com

  • http://www.itasveer.com Ashish

    Hey Gaurav,
    Go here: http://www.changethis.com
    Also, I think your blog will end up sending a lot of traffic to http://www.newdelhitimes.com

  • http://www.indimoto.com Riya

    Ahhh, since when SD’s started thinking about it. They create and put in the features they feel would be good.

  • http://www.indimoto.com Riya

    Ahhh, since when SD’s started thinking about it. They create and put in the features they feel would be good.

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