Chapter 1: ObjectThinking | Object Thinking (DV-Microsoft Professional)

Overview

Let there be no doubt that object-oriented design is fundamentally different than traditional structured design approaches: it requires a different way of thinking about decomposition, and it produces software architectures that are largely outside the realm of the structured design culture. ^[1]

” ”Grady Booch

I have three main goals for this initial chapter:

To begin showing the reader why object thinking is different and important
To introduce arguments as to why object thinking is particularly valuable to developers hoping to master extreme programming or other agile approaches ^[2]
To explain the emphasis on thinking instead of tools or technique; to explain the relevance and importance of history, philosophy, and metaphor ”topics that are seldom the focus of books purporting to improve your software development skills

The short quote from Grady Booch that opens this chapter contains three key phrases that provide a framework for the discussion in the remainder of this chapter:

fundamentally different Which raises the question of how object-oriented design s difference manifests itself and whether, in some aspects of development, this difference is more obvious or important than in other aspects.
different way of thinking Not only about decomposition but about all aspects of development. Of course, this is the theme of this entire book.
structured design culture By explicitly mentioning a structured design culture, Grady implies the existence of a corresponding object culture . There is an object culture and an extreme programming culture, and both cultures share a common heritage. Culture is a critical factor in how and what we think as human beings and as software developers.

^[1] Booch, Grady. Object-oriented Design: with Applications . Redwood City, CA: Benjamin/Cummings. 1991. ISBN: 0-8053-0091-0.

^[2] In the remainder of this book, I will generally use XP instead of XP and other agile methods as a shorthand label for aspects common to all agile methods.