原文：http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2006/10/17/
the-ten-most-important-ideas-in-software-engineering/
1.软件开发最终是由人来执行和完成而不是机器。
# Software development is performed by human beings. This notion
was first popularized by Gerald Weinberg in 1971, with a book
entitled The Psychology of Computer Programming (the silver
anniversary edition of the book was republished in 1998). McConnell
noted that estimating models like COCOMO-II demonstrate the
significant cost/effort multipliers associated with having
talented, experienced personnel on a project. He also suggests that
we can draw three conclusions from this point: (a) the success of
companies like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft is not accidental, and
is partially due to their emphasis on hiring talented people; (b)
recruiting talented staff members is easily cost-justified; and (c)
spending money on employee retention programs is
cost-justified.
2.增量开发是必须的
Incrementalism is essential. Steve distinguishes between
“incremental” and “iterative” development; by
“incrementalism,” he refers to the idea of developing a little
bit at a time, in contrast to the big-bang software development
approach.
3.迭代开发是必须的
Iteration is essential. This is a familiar concept, but Steve
warned us to avoid accepting the all-or-nothing extremes of
iteration. You don’t have to accept the “keep iterating forever”
extreme, nor do you have to accept the “no iterations are
allowed” waterfall approach.
4.增加一个缺陷的成本是延长了开发周期
The cost to increase a defect increases over time, throughout the
development life cycle. This is a concept that has been widely
accepted for the past 25 years, and McConnell says he has
revalidated its truth with data as recent as 2004, including
XP/agile projects. I was somewhat surprised by this, because a
common argument from the XP/agile enthusiasts is that modern tools
have made the old concept irrelevant — i.e., the XP/agile people
argue that it doesn’t cost much to fix a requirements defect later
in the development process, because modern IDE tools make it easy
to redevelop software. McConnell obviously disagrees with this
point, and I’ll have to look into it further before I make up my
own mind.
5.软件开发过程的瀑布模型是重要的内核(每一个增量或迭代都是一个小瀑布)
There is an important kernel of truth in the waterfall model of
development. McConnell suggests that the primary activities of
software development are discovery (of what the requirements really
are), invention (of a solution), and construction (i.e.,
implementation of that invented solution). And he argues that while
these activities can overlap and take place somewhat concurrently,
there is an intrinsically sequential nature to the
activities.
6.精确的软件估算需要增加整个软件系统的开发周期
The accuracy of estimates (about the schedule, effort, and cost)
for a project increases over time throughout the development of a
software system. There is a great deal of uncertainty in the
initial estimates that we create at the beginning of a project. The
“cone of uncertainty,” as McConnell calls it, does not narrow by
itself, it must be actively managed. As a result, McConnell
concludes that iteration must be iterative, project planning must
be incremental, and that estimates aren’t meaningful unless they
contain a description of their uncertainty.
7.最强大的重用是重用任何可复用的事物而不仅仅是代码复用
The most powerful form of reuse is reuse of everything — not just
code. We’ve long known that we should be reusing designs, plans,
checklists, role, etc; and McConnell reminds us that we should be
reusing processes for developing systems. Indeed, that’s what
SEI-CMM level 3 is all about.
8.风险管理给软件开发过程提供重要的洞察力
Risk management provides important insights into software
development. McConnel notes that most projects spend more than 50%
of their effort on unplanned work, and that the role of risk
management is to reduce unplanned work.
9.不同类型和规模的软件需要不同类型的开发方法论
Different kinds of software calls for different kinds of software
development approaches. The “one size fits all” approach to
software development methodologies is just plain silly
10.软件工程体系和指南是软件开发人员的重要资产
The Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) is an important
asset for software developers. SWEBOK has detailed information
about 10 different areas of software development, including the
familiar ones of analysis, design, construction, and testing.
McConnell notes that it can be used for curriculum development,
career development, certification, interviewing, and building a
technical skills inventory.