Evolution of Software Architecture
booch-on-sw-architecture-slides
With Grady Booch, Co-Creator of UML
Introduction
- Grady Booch: A pioneer in software engineering.
- Co-author of UML, known for object-oriented analysis and design.
- IBM Fellow and ACM Fellow with numerous awards.
Evolution of Software Engineering
- Higher Abstraction Levels: Software engineering has evolved to higher levels of abstraction, leading to powerful frameworks.
- Embedded Architectural Decisions: Many architectural decisions are now embedded in frameworks.
- Systemic Decisions: Modern architects focus on systemic decisions involving economic factors and platform choices.
Grady Booch’s Background
- Built his first computer at age 12.
- Significant contributions to software engineering and architecture.
- Author of six books and over 100 technical papers.
Changes in Software Architecture Practice
- Shift from software problems to systemic issues.
- Work spans various domains: finance, defense, healthcare.
Views on AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)
- Involved in AI since early days; worked on IBM’s Watson.
- LLMs are powerful but limited; they do not truly understand or reason.
- Criticism of over-promising AGI by figures like Elon Musk and companies like OpenAI.
Software Architecture Today
- Pre-made architectural decisions by existing frameworks and services.
- Role of architects involves integrating components and making systemic choices.
Advice for New Software Engineers
- Embrace modern tools and computational resources.
- Continuous learning, exploring various domains, and having fun with computing.
Current Projects and Future Work
- Writing a book on the architecture of various systems.
- Documentary project exploring the impact of computing on humanity.
Notable Stories
- Declined offer from Bill Gates to be Microsoft’s Chief Architect.
- Critical of AGI promises by tech leaders.
Conclusion
Grady Booch emphasizes the importance of understanding software architecture’s evolution, the role of modern tools, and the potential and limitations of AI technologies.
Thank You!
For more insights, explore Grady Booch’s work and contributions to software engineering.