2010-02-05

Superiority by Arthur C. Clarke

Superiority is a short hard science fiction story written by Arthur C. Clarke and published in 1951. Although it describes an arms race, I believe it to be very relevant to the modern software engineering world.

Soon after publication 'Superiority' was inserted into the Engineering curriculum of MIT - to warn the graduates that the Better is often the enemy of the Good - and the Best can be the enemy of both, as it is always too late. -- Arthur C. Clarke ([ACC, p. 395]).

Have you ever heard of the better being the enemy of the good (attributed to Voltaire)? Have you ever heard of overengineering?

In the story a captured general reveals the reason for his failure. His army had everything, had technological advantage, financial advantage - and yet lost to a seemingly weaker army. Why? Read this shorty story and find out why - and how surprisingly relevant it is in the software world today.

Read it now or purchase it somewhere on the Internet (I own this edition) or at your favorite book store.

Bibliography:
[ACC] Arthur C. Clarke - The Collected Stories, ISBN 978-1-85798-323-4.

You can help me maintaining this site by buying this item:
The Collected Stories Of Arthur C. Clarke (Gollancz S.F.)

24 comments:


  1. نقدم لكم عملئنا الكرام افضل شركه تنظيف شركة تنظيف بابها شركة الشرق الاوسط لاعمال التنظيف ان عملية التنظيف تتطلب الجهد الكثير شركة تنظيف منازل بابها مع شركة الشرق الاوسط توفر لكل كل وسائل الراحه شركة تنظيف بخميس مشيط وايضا اسعار في منتهى الراحه كما ايضا تستخدم افضل انواع الالات والمعدات والعمالة المدربة فى اعمال التنظيف شركة تنظيف منازل بخميس مشيط مع شركة الشرق الاوسط نعم لبيت ومكتب وفيلا وشقه وغيرها نظيف تمام من الاوساخ شركة الشرق افضل شركة على الاطلاق فى اعمال التنظيف شركة تنظيف بنجران بجميع انواعه لا تقلق مع شركة الشرق الاوسط شركة نقل عقش ببيشة دائما فى راحة ان شاء الله خدمه 24 ساعه شركة تنظيف بحائل دون توقف

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  2. نقدم لكم عمئلنا الكرام افضل شركة تنظيف فى بالطائف شركة تنظيف بالطائف شركة اوبى كلين ان عمليه التنظيف من اهم العوامل والوسائل التى تتطلب عملية شديد من الحرص والجهد والتعب اثناء عملية التنظيف شركة تنظيف منازل بالطائف مع شركة اوبى كلين وداعا تمام للتعب والجهد والمشقهه لان الشركة توفر لك كل انواع والعموال التى تساعدك فى عمليه التنظيف كما ايضا شركة اوبى كلين تمتلك افضل العماله المدربة على اكمل وجهه شركة تنظيف خزانات بالطائف حتى نوفر لك خدمه غير متاحه ال لدى شركة اوبى كلين وداعا للتعب بعد الان مع شركة اوبى كلين توفر لك كل سبل الراحه شركة مكافحة حشرات بالطائف لان الشركه متخصصه فى عملية التنظيف منذ زمن بعيد

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