Archaeology as a metaphor for understanding systems.
A number of people have been using the archaeological metaphor as a frame within which to discuss the process by which we understand software systems. I've been discussing this with a colleague of mine on and off for a few weeks and we've come to the conclusion that while this metaphor helps, it isn't the whole picture.
Let's start off by defining software archaeology, and we'll use a dictionary definition to do this[1].
soft·ware ar·chae·ol·o·gy Pronunciation Key (sôftwâr ärk-l-j)
The systematic study of past software systems by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, such as code, tests and design documentation.
Using archaeology as a metaphor allows us to reason about how we recover and examine material evidence relating to software projects. As useful as this is, it is by no means the entire story. Many times there exist individuals to interview, and primary and secondary evidence to investigate. These types of activities owe more to historical practice then they do to archaeology. One of the reasons for this is that existing communities in organisations ensure that the investigation of systems is as much about people, existing practice and precedent as it is about tools and artefacts 'dug out of the ground'. As an illustration, consider the UK constitution. The UK constitution defines the form, structure, activities, character, and fundamental principles by which UK society, law making institutions and government institutions operate. Famously though, it is not written down. Instead it consists of a number of bodies, namely the monarchy, the executive, parliament and the civil service, supported by both precedent and law. A student of the UK constitution is rather like someone trying to understand a software system. The student has to talk to experts, study paperwork, identify 'urban myths', analyse past behaviours and cope with the fact that, whilst they investigate it, the constitution is changing. The I find this process, the process of historical study, to be a more compelling analogy than archaeology when considering practical techniques for studying software systems.
[1] Even the archaeological community hotly debate the definition of archaeology so this is a working definition, but it is not the only valid definition.
Let's start off by defining software archaeology, and we'll use a dictionary definition to do this[1].
soft·ware ar·chae·ol·o·gy Pronunciation Key (sôftwâr ärk-l-j)
The systematic study of past software systems by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, such as code, tests and design documentation.
Using archaeology as a metaphor allows us to reason about how we recover and examine material evidence relating to software projects. As useful as this is, it is by no means the entire story. Many times there exist individuals to interview, and primary and secondary evidence to investigate. These types of activities owe more to historical practice then they do to archaeology. One of the reasons for this is that existing communities in organisations ensure that the investigation of systems is as much about people, existing practice and precedent as it is about tools and artefacts 'dug out of the ground'. As an illustration, consider the UK constitution. The UK constitution defines the form, structure, activities, character, and fundamental principles by which UK society, law making institutions and government institutions operate. Famously though, it is not written down. Instead it consists of a number of bodies, namely the monarchy, the executive, parliament and the civil service, supported by both precedent and law. A student of the UK constitution is rather like someone trying to understand a software system. The student has to talk to experts, study paperwork, identify 'urban myths', analyse past behaviours and cope with the fact that, whilst they investigate it, the constitution is changing. The I find this process, the process of historical study, to be a more compelling analogy than archaeology when considering practical techniques for studying software systems.
[1] Even the archaeological community hotly debate the definition of archaeology so this is a working definition, but it is not the only valid definition.
posted by Andy S at 12:02 PM
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