Difference between revisions of "Cargo Cult Software"

From Cyborg Anthropology
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 1: Line 1:
 
===Definition===
 
===Definition===
Cargo Cult Development is a term used to describe the act of designing a product or service simply because something exists that is successful, but the underlying purpose or use of the service is not developer. It can be seen in people who ask contracts to design a social network. Something may look like a social network but not look or function like it in the same way.  
+
Cargo Cult Programming is a term used to describe interfaces that are designed to look like other interfaces, but with none of the inherent functionality of those interfaces. For instance, a company may copy a user interface from Apple just because it is successful, but not actually implement any of the interactions or design consistency anywhere else in their application.  
  
It is based on the idea that people would worship an object that fall from the sky and attempt to recreate it, but that that object would only look like the original, and not function like the original. The number of people hiring web developers with the intent of "having them program the next Facebook" is an example of cargo culture development. Development without understanding the underlying intent or purpose of a current system.  
+
It is based on the idea that people would worship an object that fall from the sky and attempt to recreate it, but that that object would only look like the original, and not function like the original. The number of people hiring web developers with the intent of "having them program the next Facebook" is an example of cargo culture development. It is the development of something without understanding the underlying intent or purpose of a current system.  
 +
 
 +
From the Editor
 +
IEEE Software, March/April 2000
 +
Cargo Cult Software Engineering
 +
 
 +
Steve McConnell
 +
http://stevemcconnell.com/ieeesoftware/eic10.htm
  
 
[[Category:Book Pages]]
 
[[Category:Book Pages]]
 
[[Category:Finished]]
 
[[Category:Finished]]

Revision as of 04:05, 4 July 2011

Definition

Cargo Cult Programming is a term used to describe interfaces that are designed to look like other interfaces, but with none of the inherent functionality of those interfaces. For instance, a company may copy a user interface from Apple just because it is successful, but not actually implement any of the interactions or design consistency anywhere else in their application.

It is based on the idea that people would worship an object that fall from the sky and attempt to recreate it, but that that object would only look like the original, and not function like the original. The number of people hiring web developers with the intent of "having them program the next Facebook" is an example of cargo culture development. It is the development of something without understanding the underlying intent or purpose of a current system.

From the Editor IEEE Software, March/April 2000 Cargo Cult Software Engineering

Steve McConnell http://stevemcconnell.com/ieeesoftware/eic10.htm