53 Quotes by Steve McConnell

There are no secrets on an successful software project. Both good and bad news must be able to move up and down the ptoject hierarchy without restriction.

The default movement on a software project should be in the direction of taking elements of the software away to make it simpler rather than adding elements to make it more complex.

In software, the chain isn't as strong as its weakest link; it's as weak as all the weak links multiplied together.

The job of the average manager requires a shift in focus every few minutes. The job of the average software developer requires that the developer not shift focus more often than every few hours.

Engineering is the application of scientific principles toward practical ends. If the engineering isn't practical, it's bad engineering.

A blanket attempt to avoid mistakes is the biggest mistake of all.

Even when you have skilled, motivated, hard-working people, the wrong team structure can undercut their efforts instead of catapulting them to success. A poor team structure can increase development time, reduce quality, damage morale, increase turnover, and ultimately lead to project cancellation.

A brute force solution that works is better than an elegant solution that doesn't work.

The trouble with quick and dirty is that dirty remains long after quick has been forgotten.