Comments on: Software Architects

By: Arnon Rotem-Gal-Oz

Arnon Rotem-Gal-Oz — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:25:31 +0000

The fact that the Wikipedia definition is not very good does not mean that the profession is not needed.
I also agree that the building architect methaphor is problematic
Nevertheless, it is my experience that on large systems and even medium you need someone or someones that spend the time thinking about the big picture, understand and handle the different stakeholders and stike a ballance between all the desired quality attributes, partition the system into smaller components and help others make sure their design stays alighned with the overall goals of the system

This doesn’t mean that, for example, to help others make surre their design is good the architect doesn’t have to pair program with the developers – Architects can’t be disconnected from technology etc. – but they are still needed.

By: Andres

Andres — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 10:00:03 +0000

Kerry: Yeah, I’ve read the article. Just like Martin says, it’s an overloaded word, and unfortunately missused more than not, which is why I think that it should be scrapped.

Marcus: Actually, your post was one of the things itching in the back of my mind when I wrote this. You say that we need good architects, but I’m still not clear what an architect is or does.

By: Marcus Widerberg

Marcus Widerberg — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 14:12:06 +0000

architects are domain experts that the org. can’t get rid of, and since they don’t code any longer, they can’t be allowed commit status any more…

I assumed you read my incomplete but a bit more PC recount here:

http://mawi.org/ArchitectsAndSoftwareDevelopment.aspx

By: Kerry Buckley

Kerry Buckley — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 22:14:20 +0000

Agree 100%. The closest thing to an 'architect' on an agile team is probably a senior developer who coaches and guides others in the team (for instance while pairing, or just by keeping an ear open when other pairs are discussing how best to implement someting). I assume you've read Martin Fowler's article in a similar vein?

By: Chris Hedgate

Chris Hedgate — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 18:45:58 +0000

As Fred Brooks wrote in No Silver Bullet back in 1987, the building construction metaphor has outlived it’s usefulness. Software is not built, it is grown. Weird that it has not done more difference than it has for almost 20 years now..