Why Build Software
Alan Mark Davis · 2015
We really build software to solve real problems. If we successfully solve the intended problem and thus satisfy the customers' needs, we have done a good job-regardless of the measured quality of our product or process. If the software contributes to humanity, generates few complaints, and makes a profit, then the software is good. All other measures are secondary to the real goal. All other measures have but a second-order relationship to quality. For example, we need measurement to help assess the health of a development project, or the status of a product under development. For these goals, there are obviously many other measures that make sense and are critical.