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Fred Brooks has died (twitter.com)

1516 points by tkhattra · 1390 days ago · 211 comments on HN

Article summary

Fred Brooks, a renowned software engineer and founder of the University of North Carolina's computer science department, has passed away. Brooks was known for his influential book 'The Mythical Man-Month' and his concept of 'Brooks's Law', which states that adding more people to a late software project makes it even later. He had a significant impact on the field of software engineering and project management. His work continues to be widely read and cited today.

Main themes

  • Software Engineering
  • Project Management
  • Brooks's Law
  • The Mythical Man-Month
  • Legacy of Fred Brooks
  • Impact on Industry

What commenters say

  • The Mythical Man-Month is a seminal work that has stood the test of time and remains highly relevant to software engineering practice.
  • Brooks's Law is a fundamental principle that is still widely applicable today, despite the many changes in the field of software engineering.
  • The addition of more manpower to a software project that is behind schedule can actually delay it further, as described by Brooks's Law.
  • While some people find The Mythical Man-Month to be a highly influential and useful book, others may not find it as relevant to their own work or experiences.
  • Brooks's work has had a lasting impact on the field of software engineering and will continue to be remembered and respected.
  • It is okay to feel sad when someone like Fred Brooks passes away, despite their long and productive life.
  • The news of Brooks's passing was initially met with some skepticism, but was later confirmed by multiple sources, including the University of North Carolina's computer science department.