Software as Capital: An Economic Perspective on Software Engineering

Software As Capital looks at software development through the eyes of a capital theorist, an economist fascinated by the constant evolution of new and better tools and processes. Baetjer asks, what is really happening in software development at the conceptual level? Why has programming practice evolved as it has? Why are certain tools and methodologies superior to others? What will it take to bring dramatic improvement to the industry? Answers lie in capital theory and the evolution of capital goods.

The concept that designing capital goods is a social learning process leads to interesting conclusions about software process models and methodologies. The book examines the main failing of the software industry when compared to other industries: the absence of an extensive division of labor for software components. It sets out the reasons for the problem, outlines the solutions, and illustrates the benefits that will result from its solution.