The Essence of Software: Why Concepts Matter for Great Design

The Essence of Software is a revolutionary concept-based approach to thinking about, designing, and interacting with software that provides a practical and coherent path for making software that is empowering, dependable, and a delight to use. It explores the concept of software as a collection of interacting concepts and offers prescriptive principles and practical tips for applying them cost-effectively in a wide range of domains.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 20 June 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The design of software has become increasingly important as our reliance on technology continues to grow. However, a significant amount of software is flawed, and there has yet to be a systematic and scalable approach to creating software that is easy to use, robust, and secure. In his book, "The Essence of Software," Daniel Jackson introduces a revolutionary concept-based approach to thinking about, designing, and interacting with software. He argues that a software system should be viewed as a collection of interacting concepts, breaking down functionality into manageable parts and providing a new framework for designing software.

Jackson explores the concept of concepts in depth, covering what they are, what they are not, how to identify them, how to define them, and more. He offers prescriptive principles and practical tips that can be applied cost-effectively in a wide range of domains. He applies these ideas to contemporary software designs, drawing examples from leading software manufacturers such as Adobe, Apple, Dropbox, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, and others.

One of the key benefits of Jackson's approach is that it allows designers to preserve and reuse design knowledge, rather than starting from scratch in every project. This can lead to more efficient and effective software development processes, as well as improved user experiences.

In addition, Jackson's book provides an argument against the status quo
quo and a guide to improvement for both working designers and novices to the field. He challenges the traditional approach to software design, which is often focused on technical considerations and lacks a clear understanding of user needs and desires. By emphasizing the importance of concepts, Jackson provides a fresh approach to software and its creation that can help to improve the quality and usability of software products for all users.

Overall, "The Essence of Software" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in software design and development. It offers a comprehensive and practical approach to thinking about, designing, and interacting with software that can help to improve the quality and usability of software products for all users.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691230832