RE: Two persons per product"

[David.X.Kahn@xxxxxxx]

Steve wrote:

> If I could use an analogy here (I know it's always risky doing this,
> but I feel it is valid), if we equate programming to painting (start
> with a blank canvas, working to a goal that is only in our imagination
> at the moment), I see the only real way a 'tag team' programming
> development can work is if you have a  basic 'paint by numbers'
> scenario, where purely technical skill is involved, without
> imagination (or even understanding of where we will end up).  If,
> however, you need something with a bit of imagination, then the
> rotating programmers would lead to something like a collaboration
> between Picasso and Van Gough - fine individually but a mess when
> combined.

Programmers often mistakenly think of what they do as art. Programming is
certainly creative, but it's a actually craft rather than an art. While I
might travel miles out of my way to go and look at a Van Gogh, I'm not sure
there's any special merit in a Van Gogh engineering blueprint, or a street
map by Picasso.

Dave...
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