Software Engineering

Complexity

• Coding is about creating code

• Software Engineering is about managing complexity - creating structure

  • We want simple code, so that humans can understand it easily, without wasting mental resources.

• Structure

  • Pyramid vs. labyrint
    • any new level constructs a new game (level). until game over at the top
  • Structure (vertical) vs one more (copy & paste; horizontal)
  • Computer is a one-more machine; waving
  • Human intellect can construct structure from what it has at disposal
  • Automation: one more -> structure
  • Divide and conquer; thinking; ordering
  • Problem solving; odyssey
  • Vertical vs. horizontal structure
    • serialize vs. parallelize

chunking, 7 +/- 2 light vs. matter structure sometimes need to change (when one new comes around). that's SWE process.

• Divide and Conquer
• Method of loci, mushrooms, recall
• chess peon vs. knight (includes all)

Documentation

• Not having to map the labyrint by oneself, but having a pyramid at disposal.

Refactoring

Testing

• Tests are the scaffolding for your structure. They verify that structure once constructed doesn't fall.