The Windows Shutdown crapfest outlines, in some detail, the ridiculous bureaucracy involved in building Vista, and in particular, the teams that intersected to build the power off feature I mentioned last week. Amongst other nuggets, was this quote that kind of sums up the antithesis to keeping things simple:
bq. “The end result of all this is what finally shipped: the lowest common denominator, the simplest and least controversial option.”
And this all for something relatively simple such as a bloody power off choice menu (I do have to admit, Matt Brindley changed my mind, I actually think Vista’s power options are pretty good).
But imagine the decision process on the _complex and/or contentious_ features!
I will reserve comment until I’ve used Vista, but the signs really aren’t that good.
This is also a beautiful, powerful example of the problems of multiple people on software teams. I’m actively developing software with single developers who are smart, creative and use their initiative. We talk, argue, agree, but mainly they just get good ideas built with the minimum of fuss – and we can use all the time others would spend in meetings iterating features…plus it’s just more fun. I hate meetings.
(Via joelonsoftware , via TechMeme.)