Re: Comparison and criteria of design quality

From: H. S. Lahman (h.lahman_at_verizon.net)
Date: 09/13/04 

Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 14:18:42 GMT

Responding to Reiersol...

>> I don't see it being very effective as a self-help technique based
>> upon some sermon-on-the-mount
>
>
> "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
> thought for the things of itself." This looks a like the YAGNI principle
> ;-)
>
>> design quality criteria because (A) neither the Before nor the After
>> in hand will be the same as the originals provided with the sermon and
>> (B) defining such criteria has its own suite of problems because
>> software is still largely an art, as I've mentioned before.
>
>
> This seems to be one of those things that are impossible in theory, but
> eminently possible in practice. I think the book /Refactoring/ does
> effectively exactly what you deem ineffective. At least, that's my
> personal experience.

But that's not self-help. Fowler already has the knowledge and
experience. In writing the book he is playing the role of teacher or
mentor to those that don't and he employs the Before/After views as a
teaching aid. I already indicated I believe mentoring is the most
effective way to learn OOA/D.

My problem is with handing the novice a set of criteria for "good"
design and letting them try to do the Before/After thing with their own
work. The effectiveness of that is what I am not sanguine about.

*************
There is nothing wrong with me that could
not be cured by a capful of Drano.

H. S. Lahman
hsl@pathfindermda.com
Pathfinder Solutions -- Put MDA to Work
http://www.pathfindermda.com
blog (under constr): http://pathfinderpeople.blogs.com/hslahman
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