[lgriffith]

The Three Laws of Software

(with apologies to The Three Laws of Thermodynamics)

1. Software written by someone else is bad software

      aka. You can't get ahead.

2. Software written by me more than six weeks ago is bad software.

     aka.  You can't even break even.

3. Its been at least two months since I have written software of any significance.

    aka.  You are behind before you start.

The bottom line is that software universally sucks. The reason we keep trying to make and use it, its far better than what it replaces. Maybe, if we try real hard, we will finally get it right. If history is any guide, don't hold your breath.

[davi]

Agreed. See also these pearls from Greenspun [1]:

  Computers are the tools of the devil. ...

  Everything I've learned about computers at MIT I've boiled down into three principles:

  Unix: You think it won't work, but if you find the right wizard, he can make it work.

  Macintosh: You think it will work, but it won't.

  PC/Windows: You think it won't work, and it won't.

[1] http://books.google.com/books?id=RpCERTXtzJIC&pg=PA202&#...

[lgriffith]

At least the Unix wizard can pretend he is going to make it work. All he needs to do is pipe this into that and write just one more filter. Then he can ....

By that time both he are you are lost in a blur of keystrokes and flashing characters on the display. As you leave the computer room, you can hear him muttering: "Oh, damn. I am in the wrong shell. I have to do it this other way...tap...tap...tap...."

The truth is, it doesn't really work there either. You are simply tired of waiting and are willing to accept almost anything to stop the annoying tapping noise and the endless muttering.

Hey, it keeps us off the streets so it isn't all bad.

[davi]

No, no, don't you see, that's a bad wizard. You just have to go on a quest for a good wizard. Then everything will be fine.

[lgriffith]

and the one ring to control them all.