Dynamics of Software Development, Second Edition

The Middle Game

Although it’s difficult to divide the software development process into discrete stages, it is a worthwhile effort to categorize the overlapping stages of the process in some way. We need some schema to help us organize and focus our efforts serially. I haven’t put the topics I cover in each section into an arbitrary chronology, but neither should you take away the impression that the only time to think about or act on a particular issue is during the stage of the game to which I’ve assigned its discussion. Virtually all of the analysis and the rules of thumb in this book are things you should be aware of continuously and repetitively. As your expertise develops, your ability to simultaneously prioritize, reconcile, and apply ...