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

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'''Cowboy coding''' is a term used to describe [[software development]] where programmers 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 minimal process or discipline.<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 the broad targets, timelines, scope, and visuals (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 typically has more 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 can be common at the hobbyist or student level where developers maymight initially be unfamiliar with the technologies, such as testing, version control and/or build tooltools, usually more than just the basic coding a software project requires.

This can result in underestimating time required for learning to be underestimated, causing delays in the development process. Inexperience maymight also lead to disregard of accepted [[Standard_Operating_ProcedureStandard operating procedure#Information_technology_industry_useInformation technology industry use|standards]], making the project source difficult to read or causing conflicts between the [[Semantics#Computer_scienceComputer 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>

==== 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.

==== Uncertain design requirements ====

== Advantages 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.

==== Incompleteness ====

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>

== Advantages of Cowboy Coding ==

* Developers maintain a free-form 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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>.

* 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. {{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}

==See also==

== Examples of cowboy coding ==

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

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

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

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

* [[Self-employment]]

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

* [[Indie game development]]

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

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

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

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

* [https://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]

== References ==

== External links ==

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

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

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

== References ==

<references/>

== External links ==

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

[[Category:Software development philosophies]]

* [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}}

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[[Category:Software development philosophies]]

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