[ams6110]

The Big Ball of Mud is not unique to software. Ever been in a building that's had a lot of renovations and additions? There are weird half-flights of stairs here and there, convoluted paths from one side to the other, different styles of fixtures, etc. Eventually they get to the point where it's easier and cheaper to just build a new building somewhere else, or tear the old one down and start from scratch. Just like we do with software.

[landongn]

Absolutely true. Shantytowns are a common parallel to big balls of mud, and I think that would hold true for anything that gets constructed.