Read the excepts from this book.The first chapter reprints Mitch Kapor's "A software design Manifesto". A 11 years old paper that is still relevent, and sadly un fulfilled today. One funny quote is: "everyone I know (including me) feels the urge to throw that infuriating machine through the window at least once a week. (And now, thanks to recent advances in miniaturization, this is now possible.)"

He also draws analogy from building architects in defining what is software designer. The three fundementals of architecture, quoted often in different translation of Vitruvius, is mentioned: the triple essence: strength, utility, and aesthetic effect. Sir Henry Wotton (1568 - 1639) quaintly changed this to, "commodity, firmness and delight."