It is possible to write software that solves real business problems, cheaply and reliably. The recipe is well known, even though it's not easy to do.
I am a software developer. I'm happy to work as a programmer for ThoughtWorks, mostly in the Milano area. I used to teach at the Università dell'Insubria.
The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the Kingdom first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order their own states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, the first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.Confucius, quoted in Jerry Weinberg's "Responding to significant software events"