A groundbreaking, unifying theory of computer science for low-cost,
high-quality software
The Cognitive Dynamics of Computer Science represents the
culmination of more than thirty years of the author's hands-on
experience in software development, which has resulted in a
remarkable and sensible philosophy and practice of software
development. It provides a groundbreaking ontology of computer
science, while describing the processes, methodologies, and
constructs needed to build high-quality, large-scale computer
software systems on schedule and on budget.
Based on his own experience in developing successful, low-cost
software projects, the author makes a persuasive argument for
developers to understand the philosophical underpinnings of
software. He asserts that software in reality is an abstraction of
the human thought system. The author draws from the seminal works
of the great German philosophers--Kant, Hegel, and
Schopenhauer--and recasts their theories of human mind and thought
to create a unifying theory of computer science, cognitive
dynamics, that opens the door to the next generation of computer
science and forms the basic architecture for total autonomy.
* Four detailed cases studies effectively demonstrate how
philosophy and practice merge to meet the objective of
high-quality, low-cost software.
* The Autonomous Cognitive System chapter sets forth a model for a
completely autonomous computer system, using the human thought
system as the model for functional architecture and the human
thought process as the model for the functional data process.
* Although rooted in philosophy, this book is practical, addressing
all the key areas that software professionals need to master in
order to remain competitive and minimize costs, such as leadership,
management, communication, and organization.
This thought-provoking work will change the way students and
professionals in computer science and software development
conceptualize and perform their work. It provides them with both a
philosophy and a set of practical tools to produce high-quality,
low-cost software.
Autorentext
SZABOLCS MICHAEL de GYURKY retired from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory after twenty-five years of service, and is now employed as a consultant and writer. He was responsible for the design, programming, testing, installation, and documentation of approximately 2,500,000 lines of code. An equally important focus of his work has been the reduction of cost and the increased modularity and portability of software. Mr. de Gyurky is the recipient of the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.
The volume is richly illustrated with computer artwork renditions of de Gyurky's visualizations by associate Mark Tarbell.
Klappentext
A groundbreaking, unifying theory of computer science for low-cost, high-quality software
The Cognitive Dynamics of Computer Science represents the culmination of more than thirty years of the author's hands-on experience in software development, which has resulted in a remarkable and sensible philosophy and practice of software development. It provides a groundbreaking ontology of computer science, while describing the processes, methodologies, and constructs needed to build high-quality, large-scale computer software systems on schedule and on budget.
Based on his own experience in developing successful, low-cost software projects, the author makes a persuasive argument for developers to understand the philosophical underpinnings of software. He asserts that software in reality is an abstraction of the human thought system. The author draws from the seminal works of the great German philosophersKant, Hegel, and Schopenhauerand recasts their theories of human mind and thought to create a unifying theory of computer science, cognitive dynamics, that opens the door to the next generation of computer science and forms the basic architecture for total autonomy.
- Four detailed cases studies effectively demonstrate how philosophy and practice merge to meet the objective of high-quality, low-cost software.
- The Autonomous Cognitive System chapter sets forth a model for a completely autonomous computer system, using the human thought system as the model for functional architecture and the human thought process as the model for the functional data process.
- Although rooted in philosophy, this book is practical, addressing all the key areas that software professionals need to master in order to remain competitive and minimize costs, such as leadership, management, communication, and organization.
This thought-provoking work will change the way students and professionals in computer science and software development conceptualize and perform their work. It provides them with both a philosophy and a set of practical tools to produce high-quality, low-cost software.
Inhalt
List of Figures.
Acknowledgments.
Chapter 1. Introduction.
1.1 The Retention of Software Jobs.
1.2 Depth of Experience.
1.3 The Scope of This Book.
1.4 The Nature of Computer Science.
1.5 The Future of Computer Science.
1.6 The Essence of Philosophy.
1.7 Why Autonomy?
1.8 An Architecture for Autonomy.
1.9 Other Notes.
Chapter 2. Prologue.
2.1 How This Book Originated.
2.2 The Importance of Management.
2.3 The Tie-in with Autonomy.
2.4 Major Themes of This Book.
2.5 The Challenge of a New Idea.
2.6 The Importance of Visualization.
2.7 The Move Toward Autonomy.
2.8 Why I Wrote This Book.
2.9 Merging Theory and Practice.
2.10 The Pace of Computer Science.
2.11 The Importance of Cognitive Dynamics.
Chapter 3. The Philosophical Foundations of Computer Software Design.
3.1 The Philosophical Origins of Computer Science.
3.2 Influence of the Cognitive Philosophers.
3.3 Abstracting the Human Thought System.
3.4 The Philosophical Foundations of Software Development.
3.5 The Phenomenon of Reality.
3.6 The Phenomenon of Subjectivity.
3.7 Low-Cost Software Development.
3.8 "On Budget and On Schedule."
3.9 The Time to Completion: Schedule.
3.10 Philosophy and Successful Design.
Chapter 4. The Philosophical Imperatives of Architectural Design.
4.1 The Manager as Architect.
4.2 The Manager as Teacher.
4.3 The Manager as Social Worker.
4.4 The Manager as Axman.
4.5 The Philosophical Imperatives of Architectural Design.
4.6 Availability of the Manager.
4.7 Project Manager: 10 Key Attributes and Responsibilities.
4.8 Philosophical Aspects of Engineering.
4.9 The Importance of Finishing the Job.
4.10 Visualizing an Architecture.
4.11 The Role of Intuition in Design.
4.12 ''Sufficient Reality'' and Inference in the Design Process.
4.13 Dialectics in the Achievement of Sufficient Reality.
4.14 The Relationship of Logic to Software Architectures.
4.15 The Logic of the Systems Design.
Chapter 5. Project and Task Organization.
5.1 The Role of Organization.
5.2 The Ability to Organize.
5.3 The Difficulty of Communication.
5.4 The Title of "Manager."
5.5 The Flat, Nonhierarchical Organization.
5.6 Projects, Tasks, and Work Units.
5.7 Large Organizations and Staffing.
5.8 Staffing Up: The Initial Team.
5.9 Balancing Hardware and Software.
5.10 Incremental Deliveries.
5.11 Functional Organization.
5.12 Interface Protocols of the Organization.
5.13 Completion of the Task.