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Going “green” is a big thing recently. A lot of money is being spent on alternate forms of energy. This is all being done with good reasons in mind, but you have to stop and ask, is some of this really a good idea? There are the common things like ethanol that seemed at one time like a good solution, but after the affects were realized on food prices (this could be argued), it does not exactly seem like the best idea. Situations like this is what makes me think that there are a lot of similarities between developing software and finding “good” alternate fuels.

In software development, there are some things that you have to take into consideration to qualify a solution as not only efficient but effective. I am really talking about the phases of software development that depends on efficient processes, not just general software. When designing an algorithm for example, the quality that is mostly looked at first is the question of is it fast? Speed is of course important, but more importantly you have to make sure it works correctly, that it’s effective. Many people make the mistake and develop an algorithm that is fast, but really does not do what it’s fully intended to do.

This to me is the thought process that many have with alternate fuels. Instead of speed, people are looking at the footprint it will have. Once this is determined, there are great lengths to mass produce this new fuel. What seems to be overlooked is the “effectiveness” of it or is it really doing what it should be?

The point of alternate fuels is to decrease the overall footprint it has, whether it is carbon or even water. So if it does one really well but is horrible on the other, is it really doing what is supposed to. Is the process of making the fuel so inefficient that it really does not make it worth it in the long run?

This is not a post against ethanol or any other fuel. It’s merely to point out the interesting similarity between efficient software development and finding the right alternate fuel. We have to realize that the latest hot technology or fuel is not necessarily the best, and that the different points need to be considered and tested fully before implemented (or put into state law) .