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From: dzoey@terminus.umd.edu (Joe Herman)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: Second System Effect
Message-ID: <8115@umd5.umd.edu>
Date: 27 Feb 91 01:23:31 GMT
References: <30512@mimsy.umd.edu> <423@tivoli.UUCP> <1991Feb26.211223.4180@ico.isc.com>
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In article <1991Feb26.211223.4180@ico.isc.com> rcd@ico.isc.com (Dick Dunn) writes:
>alan@tivoli.UUCP (Alan R. Weiss) writes:
>>...
>> In my experience the FIRST system is an enormous compendium of features
>> and functions that, sadly, must be whittled down to meer epic/heroic
>> proportions to meet the first release's aggressive schedule ...

Another reason for the enormous compendium of features is that in a
new first system, it's hard to know which features will be popular
with people.  An example of this was not expecting heavy use of
electronic mail when ARPAnet was first built.  This leads to an
attempt to put in the kitchen sink, which is tough to do from scratch.

>There are various reasons for throwing away the first system...no argu-
>ment there.  But why would that be heresy against what is written in
>_The_Mythical_Man_Month_?  Go back and have a look at Chapter 11, the title
>of which is:
>	Plan to Throw One Away

I'm a little unclear of how rapid prototyping interacts with the above
principle.  Is rapid prototyping an acknowledgement of this principle?
Does rapid prototyping lead to creeping featurism? 


			  Joe Herman
			  U. of Maryland

-- 
"Everything is wonderful until you know something about it."