Partial profile · Technical Reference — full narrative profile planned
Facts and fallacies of software engineering
A seasoned software veteran presents 55 fundamental, often-forgotten facts and 10 common fallacies about software engineering to improve the decision-making of practitioners, managers, and researchers.
This is a hands-on technical/engineering book — we're building it into Stepcode (tool-by-tool how-to), with a profile to follow.
What it’s about
For decades, the software industry has been plagued by hype, runaway projects, and the frustrating tendency to repeat the same mistakes. In "Facts and Fallacies of Software Engineering," veteran practitioner and author Robert L. Glass cuts through the noise to reveal the fundamental truths of the field—principles grounded in decades of experience and research that are all too frequently forgotten. The book is an essential collection of 55 core facts and 10 persistent myths, covering the crucial roles of people and management, the realities of the development lifecycle, and the true meaning of quality. It's a pragmatic, no-nonsense guide for any software professional tired of chasing silver bullets and ready to build their practices on a foundation of evidence, wisdom, and a healthy dose of reality.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- The reader is a software professional—a developer, manager, tester, student, or researcher—who wants to build better software and avoid common project failures. They are frustrated by project overruns, low quality, and the endless cycle of silver-bullet solutions that fail to deliver on their promises.
- The problem
- Software projects frequently run late, go over budget, and produce low-quality results, often becoming 'runaway' projects or 'death marches.' The industry is plagued by hype and fads that waste time and money. The reader feels cynical, frustrated, and overwhelmed by the complexity and unpredictability of software development. They are tired of making the same mistakes and question whether there are any reliable truths in their field.
- The plan
- Acknowledge the 55 frequently forgotten fundamental facts of software engineering across management, the software life cycle, and quality.
- Confront and debunk the 10 most persistent and damaging fallacies that misguide the industry.
- Ground your software practices and management decisions in these evidence-based principles rather than fads or hype.
- Focus on the factors that truly matter: the quality of the people, a supportive environment, and realistic project constraints.
- The payoff
- The reader will lead and participate in more successful projects that meet realistic goals. · They will develop a healthy skepticism toward silver-bullet solutions, saving time and resources for what truly works. · They will achieve higher product quality and team morale by focusing on fundamentals like hiring great people and providing a productive work environment.
See our guide
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Additional reading
- Peopleware · Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister
Cited as a key source for the ideas that people are the most important factor in software success (Fact 1) and that the working environment has a profound impact (Fact 4).
- The Psychology of Computer Programming · Gerald Weinberg
The origin of the 'egoless programming' concept, which the author analyzes and refutes as a fallacy (Fallacy 3).