analogy^(1/0)

Choose your analogy carefully

The analogies one uses to describe their work disclose important aspects about how they view one’s craft. These analogies then shape the tools which are created and dangle on one’s toolbelt. Two of my favorite analogies, teaching and pottery share the same goal of undermining the development-as-bricklaying mindset around which many development tools have organized. The brick-laying analogy (and the managerial mindset that software is “built”) has created tools which don’t fit the work.…