Since the early days of computers, programmers have been perplexed and frustrated by the problems of organizing camplexity and of producing large running programs in real environments.
Much in the manner of patients afflicted with a disease that is not well understood, they (and especially their managers) have quested after miracle cures.
Anyone who has been in the field for any length of time cannot avoid a certain sense of deJa vu; artificial intelligence, COBOL, and extensible languages were each in their time proclaimed as the solution to all the problems of programming.
And now, we hear, salvation is to be found in the religion of "structured programming"ยฐ and interpretations of the Gospel According to St. Edsger are being preached from pulpits everywhere.
Unfortunately this new religion is not merely innocuous; it is positively harmful.
For, llke many other religions, it induces in its believers a distorted perception of reality and, as a consequence, an inability to deal with realltv effectively.