Subj : Re: Flowchart software that supports top down development?
To   : comp.programming,microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion,microsoft.public.visio.developer
From : Scott Moore
Date : Thu Jul 28 2005 03:18 pm

Phlip wrote:
> Scott Moore wrote:
> 
> 
>>So you are saying you would design a building by putting together each
> 
> room
> 
>>at a time, stacked one on the other, until you get a 20 story building.
> 
> 
> No.
> 
> 
>>Good thing there is nothing similar between the building trades and
> 
> programming,
> 
>>since designing buildings like that gives you a building that collapses of
>>its own weight!
> 
> 
> I'm saying you build a tiny hut, and it stands up. Then you build a slightly
> larger hut, and it stands up. Then you improve your materials a little, and
> build another hut. Keep going, one tiny change at a time, until you have a
> big building.
> 

Which is why the analogy is a good one. Your building will fall down, even
though you built each "hut" very carefully.

The reason why is that buildings rely more on their skeleton and overall
design for strength than the design of each individual room. In fact, designing
a building is a classic case for top down design. The entire building and its
skeleton are designed first, then the details, like floorplanning, plumbing,
walls, etc.

.