Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!emory!hubcap!ncrcae!ncr-sd!sagpd1!jharkins
From: jharkins@sagpd1.UUCP (Jim Harkins)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: CASE - The Emperor has no clothes on!
Keywords: CASE rubbish
Message-ID: <814@sagpd1.UUCP>
Date: 9 Jun 90 18:52:56 GMT
References: <37538@genrad.UUCP>
Reply-To: jharkins@sagpd1.UUCP (Jim Harkins)
Organization: Scientific Atlanta, Government Products Div, San Diego, CA
Lines: 32

In article <37538@genrad.UUCP> charlie@genrad.com (Charlie D. Havener) writes:
>'Are Structured Design CASE tools worth investing time, effort and money in?'
>I have tentatively formed my decision. The answer is NO!

I second the motion, they have nowhere near the power and flexibility of UNIX
or even DOS.

>The government loves paper - these tools help you create a monument of paper.

Yep, and the tools I've seen are oriented towards the MIL-SPEC 2167 which
specifies exactly what format this mound of paper will be in.  Note 2167 has
absolutely nothing to do with good code, in fact some of it's requirements
almost force bad code.  2167 is for government flunkies to cover their asses
when (not if, under 2167) things go wrong.

>I've said enough. If anyone can provide a substantive rebuttal I would like
>to hear it.

Me too, I'm successfully pushing for the abondonment of our CASE tool here.
Basically it addresses problems I don't have, doesn't do a damn thing for the
problems I do have, and causes me problems I wouldn't have if I didn't use the
thing.

I guess I should put a disclaimer in here as we are a government contracter.
My views are my own, if you want to know if management shares them you should
submit a Request For Proposal that we can use to generate a mound of paper :-)


-- 
jim		jharkins@sagpd1

I hate to see you go, but I love to see you walk away.