Cowboy coding: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:34, 22 July 2010

Latest revision as of 04:24, 13 August 2025

(144 intermediate revisions by 82 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Derogatory term in software development}}

{{linkfarm|date=January 2009}}

{{multiple issues|

{{procon|date=July 2013}}

{{refimprove|date=January 2011}}

{{original research|date=January 2011}}

{{linkfarmglobalize|date=January 20092011}}

}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2016}}

'''Cowboy coding''' is a term used to describe [[software development]] where the developersprogrammers have [[autonomy]] over the development process. This includes control of the project's schedule, languages, algorithms, tools, frameworks and coding style. Typically, little to no coordination exists with other developers or stakeholders.

A cowboy coder can be a lone developer or part of a group of developers working with eitherminimal noprocess externalor managementdiscipline.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Welker |title=cowboy coding |url=https://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/definition/cowboy-coding |website=searchsoftwarequality |publisher=TechTarget |access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref> Usually it occurs when there is little participation by business users, or fanned by management that controls only non-development aspects of the project, such as itsthe broad targets, naturetimelines, scope, and feature setvisuals (the "what", but not the "how").{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

"Cowboy coding" commonly sees usage as a [[pejorative|derogatory]] term when contrasted with more structured [[software development methodology|software development methodologies]].

Cowboy coding can have positive or negative [[connotations]], depending on one's opinions on the role of management and formal process in software development; "cowboy coding" is often used as a [[pejorative|derogatory]] term by supporters of software development methodologies, such as [[Agile software development|Agile]]. However, the term has been [[reclaimed word|reclaimed]] to some extent by those practicing within the community.

== Disadvantages of Cowboy Coding ==

In cowboy coding, the lack of formal [[software project management]] methodologies may be indicative (though not necessarily) of a project's small size or experimental nature.<ref>Hughes, Bob and Cotterell, Mike (2006). ''Software Project Management'', pp.283-289. McGraw Hill Education, Berkshire. {{ISBN 007719899|0-07-710989-9}}</ref>. Software projects with these attributes may exhibit:

==== Lack of release structure ====

Lack of [[estimation (project management)|estimation]] or implementation planning maymight cause a project to be delayed. Sudden deadlines or pushes to release software may encourage the use of [["quick and dirty]] or [[code and fix]]" techniques that will require further attention later.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stickyminds.com/sites/default/files/presentation/file/2013/09BSOFR_W7.pdf |title=In Defense of Waterfall: Deconstructing the Agile Manifesto |accessdate=February 1, 2016}}</ref>

==== Inexperienced developers ====

Cowboy coding iscan be common at the hobbyist or student level where developers maymight initially be unfamiliar with the technologies, such as thetesting, [[buildversion control and/or tool|build tools]], thatusually the project requires. This can result in time required for learning to be underestimated, causingmore delaysthan injust the developmentbasic process.coding Inexperiencea may also lead to disregard of accepted [[Standard_Operating_Procedure#Information_technology_industry_use|standards]], making thesoftware project source difficult to read or causing conflicts between the [[Semantics#Computer_science|semantics]] of the language constructs and the result of their outputrequires.

==== Uncertain design requirements ====

Custom software applications, even when using a proven development cycle, can experience problems with the client concerning requirements. Cowboy coding can accentuate this problem by not scaling the requirements to a reasonable timeline, and may result in unused or unusable components being created before the project is finished. Similarly, projects with less tangible clients (often experimental projects, see [[independent game development]]) may begin with code and never a formal analysis of the design requirements. Lack of design analysis may lead to incorrect or insufficient technology choices, possibly requiring the developer to [[porting|port]] or rewrite their software in order for the project to be completed.

==== Incompleteness ====

Many software development models, such as [[Extreme Programming]], use an incremental approach which stresses functional prototypes at each phase. Non-managed projects may have few [[unit testing|unit tests]] or working iterations, leaving an incomplete project unusable.

This can result in underestimating time required for learning, causing delays in the development process. Inexperience might also lead to disregard of accepted [[Standard operating procedure#Information technology industry use|standards]], making the project source difficult to read or causing conflicts between the [[Semantics#Computer science|semantics]] of the language constructs and the result of their output.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stickyminds.com/presentation/stareast-2000-confessions-recovering-coding-cowboy|title=StickyMinds - STAREAST 2000: Confessions of a (Recovering) Coding Cowboy|work=StickyMinds|accessdate=February 2, 2016}}</ref>

== Advantages of Cowboy Coding ==

* Developers maintain a freeform working environment that may encourage experimentation, learning, and free distribution of results.

* It allows developers to cross architectural and/or tiered boundaries to resolve design limitations and defects.

* Without a development/designer framework, the programmer, as opposed to the project manager, is responsible for removing roadblocks. This may improve the speed of development.

* Independent developers can begin with cowboy coding techniques before later selling them to commercial use or creating community-supported projects.

* Small projects may be burdened by heavy software management methodologies; cowboy coding removes this burden.

* By coding in their own time, a hobby project may come to fruition which otherwise wouldn't have<ref>K, Alex. Google's "20 percent time" in action http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/05/googles-20-percent-time-in-action.html, Official Google Blog, 2006-5-18</ref>.

* It allows truly talented developers the license they need to maximize their potential.

==== Uncertain design requirements ====

== Examples of cowboy coding ==

Custom software applications, even when using a proven development cycle, can experience problems with the client concerning requirements. Cowboy coding can accentuate this problem by not scaling the requirements to a reasonable timeline, and maymight result in unused or unusable components being created before the project is finished. Similarly, projects with less tangible clients (often experimental projects, see [[independent game development]]) maycould begin with code and never a formal analysis of the design requirements. Lack of design analysis maycould lead to incorrect or insufficient technology choices, possibly requiring the developer to [[porting|port]] or rewrite their software in order for the project to be completed.

{{POV-section|date=September 2009}}

==== Incompleteness ====

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070717193315/http://siliconuser.com/?q=node/10 How Adobe's Photoshop Was Born]

Many software development models, such as [[Extreme Programming]], use an incremental approach which stresses that the software must be releasable at the end of each iteration. Non-managed projects may have few [[unit testing|unit tests]] or working iterations, leaving an incomplete project unusable. As such, agile methodologies have been compared to cowboy coding but agile has formal processes, procedures, measurement, project management and other oversight while cowboy coding has none of this.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.stickyminds.com/sites/default/files/article/file/2013/XUS22546409file1_0.doc |title=Exploring Agile Development | work=Pragmatic Software Newsletter |issue=March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stickyminds.com/better-software-magazine/dont-just-break-software-make-software|title=StickyMinds - Don't Just Break Software. Make Software|work=StickyMinds|accessdate=February 2, 2016}}</ref>

* [http://httpd.apache.org/ABOUT_APACHE.html About Apache HTTP Server]

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/jul/25/media.newmedia A brief history of Facebook]

* [[History of Google#Early_history|Early history of Google]]

* [http://www.pacifict.com/Story/ The Graphing Calculator Story]

* [http://netfiles.uiuc.edu/rhasan/linux/#New%20Baby%20in%20the%20Horizon History of Linux]

* [http://blogs.sun.com/TechDaysEvents/entry/the_mysql_story The MySQL Story]

* [http://folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Switcher.txt Switcher: The Macintosh's first multi-tasking environment]

* [http://www.holidaytaxis.com Holiday Taxis]

== Advantages of Cowboy Coding ==

== External links ==

* Developers maintain a freeformfree-form working environment that may encourage experimentation, learning, and free distribution of results.

* [http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?CowboyCoder Cowboy Coder] definition at Wards Wiki

* It allows developers to cross architectural and/or tiered boundaries to resolve design limitations and defects.

* [http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?CowboyCoding Cowboy Coding] definition at Wards Wiki

* As discussing architectures, writing specifications and reviewing the code all take their time, a single developer (if sufficient) may well produce a working application faster by cowboy coding. Tasks like research or prototyping may not require the code quality more complex methods provide.

* [http://cowboyprogramming.com/2007/01/11/delving-into-cowboy-programming/ Delving into Cowboy Programming]

* BySince coding incan theirbe owndone during the developer's free time, a hobby project maycould come to fruition which otherwise wouldn't have.<ref>K, Alex. Google's "20 percent time" in action http[https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/05/googles-20-percent-time-in-action.html "Google's '20 percent time' in action"], Official Google Blog, 2006-5-May 18, 2006</ref>.

==See References also==

* [[Hacker (programmer subculture)|Hacker]], a subculture that relies on the creativity of individual programmers

* [[Code monkey (disambiguation)|Code monkey]], a pejorative term for programmers who are employed to write simple or repetitive code

* [[Self-employment]]

* [[Indie game development]]

* {{Section link|Cowboy|Negative associations}}

==References==

<references/>

== External links ==

[[Category:Software development philosophies]]

* [http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?CowboyCoder Cowboy Coder] definition at Wards[[Ward Cunningham|Ward's]] Wiki

* [http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?CowboyCoding Cowboy Coding] definition at Wards[[Ward Cunningham|Ward's]] Wiki

* {{cite web|url=http://cowboyprogramming.com/2007/01/11/delving-into-cowboy-programming/|title=Delving into Cowboy Programming|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323115724/http://cowboyprogramming.com/2007/01/11/delving-into-cowboy-programming/|archivedate=2019-03-23}}

{{independent media}}

[[it:Cowboy coding]]

[[uk:Партизанське програмування]]

[[Category:Software development philosophies]]

[[Category:Computer programming folklore]]

[[Category:Software engineering folklore]]