Stephen A. Fuqua (SAF) is a Bahá'í, software developer, and conservation and interfaith advocate in the DFW area of Texas.

Review and Reflection on "The Mythical Man-Month" by Frederick P. Brooks Jr.

November 9, 2011

The Mythical Man-Month is a true classic. Many have heard of it; I wonder how many in my generation have taken the time to read it? Although it was written primarily* in the mid-seventies, based on experiences from the mid-sixties, it nevertheless offers

1. Brilliant insights on the working of computers and software;
2. Brilliant insights on the workings of the people who work on them;
3. Unintentional but illuminating lessons in history;
4. A powerful argument for the importance of process but against its ossification;
5. And of course, much sage advice.

(* the copy I found at a Half-Price is a 20th-anniversary edition with additional information, and valuable, essays written in the eighties and nineties).

This post will begin a series of reflections based on little sticky notes I used to remind myself of Lessons Learned or To Be Explored. That in itself was a lesson learned, but from elsewhere. I had probably thought to do it before, but was too frugal to "waste" my sticky notes this way. Should've been doing this for years.