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Software Analogies

~2 mins read

“All models are wrong but some are useful”

A common one is the car analogy.

The engine, transmission - Server-side/Backend

The chassis - Client-side/Front End

Dashboard - Analytics

Interior controls - UI design

The overall feeling of driving experience - UX

Warning Lights - Monitoring

A second analogy empasizes iteration,

From a skateboard, to a scooter, a bike, a motorbike, a car, ..

A third one is film-making, it is sometimes more natural since manufacturing implies tangible products, software is closer to a movie in many ways

Examples from https://lostechies.com/rodpaddock/2010/04/15/film-making-a-better-software-development-metaphor/

• Requirements/Design
  • Treatments – RFQ/RFP
  • Scripts – Detailed Requirements
• Green Light /Red Light
  • Budget – Budget
  • Schedule – Schedule
  • Scope – Scope
• Team Parallels
  • Director – Principle Software Developer
  • Writer – Analyst
  • Special Effects Supervisor – Research and Development
  • Camera Operator – Software Developer
  • Producer – Project Management
• Project Size Parallels
  • Trailers – Demos/Prototypes/Spikes
  • Shorts  – Stories
  • Television Shows – Deliverables
  • Features – Projects
  • Trilogies/Epics – Large Projects
• Requirements/Design
  • Scripts – Detailed Requirements
  • Scenes – Stories
  • Shot Lists – Project back log
• Pre Production – Project initiation/planning
  • Story boards – Mock ups
  • Animatics – Prototypes
• Principle Photography – Software Development Process
  • Setups – Iteration development
  • Cutting Room Floor – Cutting features
• Post Production –  Project Delivery
  • Reshoots – Rework of current features
  • Cutting Room Floor – Cutting features

Software is also similar to craft and mathematics, too

A building metaphor is also used, software “architecture”, software “development”

There is no best analogy, if it helps to explain or understand, it’s useful.