Programming as if People Mattered: Friendly Programs, Software Engineering, and Other Noble Delusions

by Nathaniel S. Borenstein

Through a set of lively anecdotes and essays, Nathaniel Borenstein traces the divergence between the fields of software engineering and user-centered software design, and attempts to reconcile the needs of people in both camps.

Originally published in 1991.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 1991

Reviews

[Jeanne Boyarsky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a great book when it came out. I'm only giving it two stars because if someone reads it now, it is quite dated. There were parts I liked though, even if just from seeing "programming industry history":

- how "great" waterfall is when you plan everything in advance. And even then recognizing a UI is not waterfall
- a computer book cost $30 in 1992
- In 1988 HCI was split between HCI and CHI as an acronym
- why people were against change in going from line editors to the next step
- the screenshots of old software to illustrate usability issues
- James Gossling worked on the original windows management system referenced in the book

There were also parts that were still relevant:
- usability studies and art vs tech
- users are like three year olds. if they all want a cookie, maybe you should give them a healthy lunch which is what they really need