A manager went to the master programmer and showed him the requirements
document for a new application. The manager asked the master: "How long will
it take to design this system if I assign five programmers to it?"
"It will take one year," said the master promptly.
"But we need this system immediately or even sooner! How long will it
take it I assign ten programmers to it?"
The master programmer frowned. "In that case, it will take two years."
"And what if I assign a hundred programmers to it?"
The master programmer shrugged. "Then the design will never be
completed," he said.
-- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming"
document for a new application. The manager asked the master: "How long will
it take to design this system if I assign five programmers to it?"
"It will take one year," said the master promptly.
"But we need this system immediately or even sooner! How long will it
take it I assign ten programmers to it?"
The master programmer frowned. "In that case, it will take two years."
"And what if I assign a hundred programmers to it?"
The master programmer shrugged. "Then the design will never be
completed," he said.
-- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming"
Related:
- A manager went to the master programmer and showed him the requirements
document for a new application.
The manager asked the master: "How long will it take to design this system if I assign five programmers to it?... - A manager asked a programmer how long it would take him to finish the
program on which he was working.
I will be finished tomorrow," the programmer promptly replied.... - A novice asked the Master: "Here is a programmer that never designs,
documents, or tests his programs.
Yet all who know him consider him one of the best programmers in the world.... - A master programmer passed a novice programmer one day.
The master noted the novice's preoccupation with a hand-held computer game.... - The Magician of the Ivory Tower brought his latest invention for the
master programmer to examine.
The magician wheeled a large black box into the master's office while the master waited in silence.... - Thus spake the master programmer:
"Though a program be but three lines long, someday it will have to
be maintained.
-- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming... - A master was explaining the nature of Tao to one of his novices.
"The Tao is embodied in all software -- regardless of how insignificant," said the master.... - A master was explaining the nature of the Tao to one of his novices,
"The Tao is embodied in all software -- regardless of how insignificant,"
said the master.
"Is the Tao in a hand-held calculator?" asked the novice.... - Curse these personal computers!" cried the novice in anger, "To make them do
anything I must use three or even four editing programs.
This is truly intolerable!" The master programmer stared at the novice....
