Back in the early days of astronomy, the problem of the stars that wander from fixed positions in the sky needed solving. Many astronomers, not the first of which was Ptolemy, proposed that these “planetai” could be modeled as following little curves—epicycles—through their larger motions. As it was found that these epicycles continued to fail, smaller and smaller iterations were added. It was not until astronomers realised that they were not at the centre of the universe that they realised this was an over-complicated and unnecessary model.
Here, in the early days of making software, the problem of the software that wanders from budget, quality and time expectations needed solving. Many programmers, not the first of which was Boehm, proposed that these “projects” could be modeled as following little curves—spirals—through their larger motions. As it was found that these spirals continued to fail, smaller and smaller iterations were added.
