One dysfunctional thing I’d expect would be the existence or perceived existence of a contrary movement, using the word “dogma” and saying things like “worse is better” and “if it’s stupid but it works, it isn’t stupid” and “those ivory-tower academics never have to deal with real-world problems” and “when theory and practice clash, theory loses”.
For example, this article makes a specific point about a specific situation (mixed in with some crazy), but might still leave one with an impression of “boo carefully planned programs, yay big hairy messes where you don’t know what half the API calls are for”.
Also, general hyperbolic discounting and programmers just not caring.
One dysfunctional thing I’d expect would be the existence or perceived existence of a contrary movement, using the word “dogma” and saying things like “worse is better” and “if it’s stupid but it works, it isn’t stupid” and “those ivory-tower academics never have to deal with real-world problems” and “when theory and practice clash, theory loses”.
For example, this article makes a specific point about a specific situation (mixed in with some crazy), but might still leave one with an impression of “boo carefully planned programs, yay big hairy messes where you don’t know what half the API calls are for”.
Also, general hyperbolic discounting and programmers just not caring.
Also, sort of implied by that: methodologies that don’t actually work.
Unexpectedly semi-relevant: the latest xkcd, Good Code.