Levine, The Best Teacher For Programmers

Citing Gerald Weinberg from the book The Psychology of Computer Programming.

It is impossible to begin a discussion of psychological principles of programming language design without recalling the story of “Levine the Genius Tailor.” It seems that a man had gone to Levine to have a suit made cheaply, but when the suit was finished and he went to try it on, it didn’t fit him at all. “Look,” he said, “the jacket is much too big in back.”

“No problem,” replied Levine, showing him how to hunch over his back to take up the slack in the jacket.

“But then what about the right arm? It’s three inches too long.”

“No problem,” Levine repeated, demonstrating how, by leaning to one side and stretching out his right arm, the sleeve could be made to fit.

“And what about these pants? The left leg is too short.”

“No problem,” said Levine for the third time, and proceeded to teach him how to pull up his leg at the hip so that, though he limped badly, the suit appeared to fit.

Having no more complaints, the man set off hobbling down the street, feeling slightly duped by Levine. Before he went two blocks, he was stopped by a stranger who said, “I beg your pardon, but is that a new suit you’re wearing?”

The man was a little pleased that someone had noticed his suit, so he took no offense. “Yes it is,” he replied. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, I’m in the market for a new suit myself. Who’s your tailor?”

“It’s Levine — right down the street.”

“Well, thanks very much,” said the stranger, hurrying off. “I do believe I’ll go to Levine for my suit. Why, he must be a genious to fit a cripple like you!”

In the book it is said about designing programming languages. But I wonder if we can say the same of all software development!