Laws related to Software Development

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Posted in » Software - by Ades on July 8th, 2009

Here is some laws to take into consideration when developing a software:

Hofstadter’s law
It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take Hofstadter’s Law into account.

Brooks’s law
Adding manpower to a late software project makes it later.

Lister’s law
People under time pressure don’t think faster.

The ninety-ninety rule
The first 90% of the code accounts for the first 90% of the development time. The remaining 10% of the code accounts for the other 90% of the development time.

Worse is better (New Jersey style)
Describes how a seemingly “inferior” product can be better from a user perspective. A limited but easy-to-use software may be more popular among users than a “better”, more comprehensive one.

Wirth’s law
Software is getting slower more rapidly than hardware becomes faster.

Source: pingdom blog

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23 Responses to “Laws related to Software Development”

  1. By David@ ihouseshare.com on Jul 9, 2009

    Don’t you mean the first 90% takes 10%? ;-)

    these great rules are also applicable to Life productivity

  2. By Ah Hong on Jul 9, 2009

    Brooks’s law
    Adding manpower to a late software project makes it later.

    I deeply agree on this. It just make things worst :(

  3. By Ajith on Jul 9, 2009

    And Murphy’s law as well… All first demos will invariably fail despite having n number of dry runs.

  4. By how to make money on Jul 10, 2009

    Great post. It very funny, but true at the same time.

  5. By Melayu Boleh on Jul 10, 2009

    ehm..i never thought about law for software development. It looks new to me.

  6. By Web Design on Jul 10, 2009

    Nice Info. Thanks for sharing the knowledge about the Laws related of software Development

  7. By Patios gold coast on Jul 11, 2009

    Awesome post. Very nice and interesting. Good rules and good idea of laws for software development.

  8. By Patios gold coast on Jul 11, 2009

    @how to make money– I think there is nothing funny in it. Its true.

  9. By Mikael @ Retire Rich on Jul 12, 2009

    Never heard of the ninety-ninety rule but it made me smile :)

  10. By Online TV on Jul 12, 2009

    I agree with the Hofstadter’s law. When I first created my website, I thought it will tale a month or maximum 2, to create the website, but instead, it took me more than 1 year to create it.

  11. By Marketing Man on Jul 12, 2009

    As a marketer I really feel for developers. I will never be able to operate the way that they do. 3 Cheers to the boys (and girls) that pursue this patch, as you are the true magicians of the interweb!

  12. By Bejeweled blitz cheat on Jul 13, 2009

    All sound about right! (apart from the typo in the 1st)

  13. By Ades on Jul 14, 2009

    it’s not a typo, wikipedia says it’s usually mistaken for a typo :) link

  14. By Karaoke hire on Jul 15, 2009

    “Law related of Software development” is such new information for me. Very interesting.You are doing nice to sharing it.

  15. By abrablog on Jul 15, 2009

    not really understand about law. But interesting to read and know.

  16. By eyeman on Jul 17, 2009

    software development? its new niche i know todays..

  17. By Healthcare information on Jul 18, 2009

    hi,please tell me What are some software development roles in the financial industry?

  18. By robertclaye on Jul 18, 2009

    good blog….. Software is getting slower more rapidly than hardware becomes faster.

  19. By Patios gold coast on Jul 22, 2009

    I thought it will tale a month or maximum 2, to create the website, but instead, it took me more than 1 year to create it.

  20. By titan on Jul 23, 2009

    too many law. Dizzy..

  21. By web design India on Jul 24, 2009

    nice article, the information you have shared is true. it is essential to know for each software developers.

  22. By clypidus on Jul 27, 2009

    I disagree with the people under time pressure don’t think faster.

    It varies on personality type, some like the pressure and perform better under it.

  23. By Hair Growth Vitamins on Oct 16, 2009

    Hey Ades,

    I do designing for my blog. And to be true I haven’t heard of these principles before in my life, but they are true.

    As I have experienced under work pressure, my mind blocks and I become inefficient in thinking faster.


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