How many Microsoft employees does it take to change a lightbulb?
In the previous post, I complained about the fact that Microsoft and other software companies keep adding features that aren’t used by most people. Actually, adding features to software at a big company is an involved process. Several years ago Microsoft programmer Eric Lippert described who’s involved in implementing even a simple feature:
- One dev to spend five minutes implementing ChangeLightBulbWindowHandleEx.
- One program manager to write the specification.
- One localization expert to review the specification for localizability issues.
- One usability expert to review the specification for accessibility and usability issues.
- At least one dev, tester and PM to brainstorm security vulnerabilities.
- One PM to add the security model to the specification.
- One tester to write the test plan.
- One test lead to update the test schedule.
- One tester to write the test cases and add them to the nightly automation.
- Three or four testers to participate in an ad hoc bug bash.
- One technical writer to write the documentation.
- One technical reviewer to proofread the documentation.
- One copy editor to proofread the documentation.
- One documentation manager to integrate the new documentation into the existing body of text, update tables of contents, indexes, etc.
- Twenty-five translators to translate the documentation and error messages into all the languages supported by Windows.The managers for the translators live in Ireland (European languages) and Japan (Asian languages), which are both severely time-shifted from Redmond, so dealing with them can be a fairly complex logistical problem.
- A team of senior managers to coordinate all these people, write the cheques, and justify the costs to their Vice President.
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