Why Software Isn’t Like Building Construction

Many software development and management methods are founded on a basic assumption – that constructing software is rather like building a bridge or a house. Once we’ve “done the design”, actually generating the software ought to be a completely predictable, relatively low-skilled process. However four decades of failure to achieve this vision might suggest that we should revisit
the assumption.

In a paper entitled “The New Methodology” Martin Fowler, the guru of object-oriented development, suggests a couple of reasons why this might be.

My article answers Martin’s, suggesting a couple of other considerations, and whether we have to completely abandon the physical construction analogy as a result.