Re: Development: A Structured Problem Area?

> I am unclear about how software exhibits emergent behavior. From my
> understanding of the complexity literature, emergence can occur when
> many independent agents with simple rules interact; the Game of Life
> being an example. I don't see software as being structured in the same
> way - will you volunteer an example?

Someone over here writes an XML parsing library. Someone over there 
writes a simple templating system. Google opens up their web API.

A programmer in Boise combines these elements to create a web page that 
finds good restaurant/movie combinations.

That's an emergent application. Small chunks combined in unexpected 
ways to produce new value. The application _could_ have been written 
ground up, using now pre-existing elements. But it is unlikely to have 
happened.

And that's where the non-linearity comes in. In the old days, we wrote 
specs, then wrote applications. We still do that today, but the 
exciting stuff happens when folks notice patterns and exploit 
opportunities. Not all value comes from specifications.

Cheers

Dave



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