Explaining software development methods by flying to Mars

Chris@feddit.uk to Programmer Humor@programming.dev – 770 points –
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NASA also successfully flew a helicopter on Mars first try.

Yep. They're probably better than anyone at making a complex system with literal moving parts that works 100% of the time, the first time. On a nearly unlimited budget, with a decades-long schedule. In an institution and culture that's now a been around a lifetime, staffed with top-notch people.

That's all perfect for what NASA does, but I wouldn't recommend a management system that NASA uses to just anyone, just 'cause "da astronauts" use it. Not any more than I'd recommend drinking your own distilled piss to anyone.

I don't really have an opinion on Agile, even, I just have a problem with selling it this way.

That’s fair enough. The common misconception is that waterfall is great for space missions, when in reality NASA is doing agile.

I agree that not everybody is NASA, so what works for them doesn’t necessarily work for everyone.