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Title: An Exploration of the Phenomenology of Software Development.
Proposer: charles_tolman
Type: Workshop/Discussion
Duration: 45 minutes
Description: First let me say that this will not be a presentation by someone with all the answers. It is to be a sharing of the more subtle aspects of software development from a practitioner's standpoint.

The field has seen an unprecedented transition of a significant part of humanity from physical work to an internally oriented environment dealing with non-physical constructs.

Yet just how aware are we of this fact? How do we see the development of the skills in dealing with this inner world’s dynamic? How can we communicate about it in any way that makes sense?

I consider that the future positive, and human, progress of software development is dependent upon dealing with this ‘elephant in the room’ that few in our discipline (with some notable exceptions) want to talk about. I also propose that it cannot be done from a singularly results-oriented viewpoint.

Gathering insights from the likes of Wolfgang Goethe, Henri Bortoft, Richard Glass and also the recent work of Christopher Alexander, the speaker welcomes those who have the courage to literally take their hearts into their hands and dive into this inner world from a practitioner’s viewpoint.

Attendees will be invited to reflect about the inner processes of software development by considering what should be the familiar ground of various simple software design problems.

PS: This will be my first time at presenting at ACCU (gulp) although have been to a fair number of the conferences in the past.


Roger: I find it hard to call this one.
Asti: Puts me in mind of an Amway presentation. I like to encourage new speakers so maybe we offer him a shorter slot if he tightens it up a bit?