The Language for a Complex World

Computer science students often extrapolate from their demonstrated ability to write small programs and believe that the same methods and techniques will enable them to develop large software systems. Only later, when they gain experience and mature into competent software engineers, do they realize that the real world does not correspond to the ideal setting of a lab.

Modern software systems are built by tens, even hundreds, of software engineers. Inevitably, a large team will suffer from inconsistencies caused by growth and rapid turnover. Throw in human personality traits such as ambition and envy, and it is a wonder that a large system can even be built!