COOPER'S LAWSLaw #1 All systems look good on paper Law #2 Never assume a system has a particular feature just because it seems obvious that it would. Even if it does, it won't work the way you think it should. Law #3 People who design CAD systems never use them to design anything. Law #4 No CAD system is as good as the demo can make it look, and no system is as bad as an incompetent demonstrator can make it look. Law #5 The vendor's statement "Our system is so easy to learn, all you need is our user's manual" assumes that you have a master's degree in computer science, ten years of experience using other systems, plenty of free time, membership in MENSA, an IQ of 175, and a natural flair for puzzles. Law #6 The CAD system's user manual comes fully encrypted - free of charge. Law #7 When you first start using a system, you'll think there are bugs in it, but they will be your mistakes. As soon as you become more proficient with the system you'll discover the real bugs, which will be described as unique features of the system. Law #8 After you discover a legitimate bug and duplicate the conditions that caused it five different times, you report if to the vendor and they won't be able to duplicate it. Law #9 As soon as you become proficient and familiar with the operation of the system and learn to work around the limitations, you'll receive a new release that operates significantly different from the old one and includes a new set of bugs. Law #10 According to the vendor, bugs will be fixed in the next release. New software releases won't fix existing bugs and will include new ones. Law #11 Hardware failures always happen when you haven't saved your data in six hours. Law #12 New CAD systems are always installed two days prior to commencement of design of the most important project your company has ever had, which is already behind schedule. Your boss expects you and the CAD system to make up the lost time. Law #13 No matter what system you purchase, you'll wish it was faster and more powerful. As told to Richard Nedbal of CAD Solutions, San Jose, CA. by Dick Cooper, an engineering coordinator for 3M's Test and Measurement Systems division, in the June 1989 issue of Personal Engineering and Instrumentation News - and typed here by Michael Lurie, Sysop - The Depot BBS (717)853-3599 data. |