Those that know me know I am not a huge fan of spiral methodology. A lot of people like it, and I see the value. However, it has never worked particularly well for me. I prefer a modified waterfall methodology with short payloads. Perhaps this isn't all that radically different from spiral, but, I like the concepts better. Spiral never really feels like you are done, and, it also has the added implication of compounding. My feeling is that it tends to prevent engineers from considering the whole problem set, fostering a "we will get to answering that question later." This really is not a blog talking about the relative strengths and weaknesses of any given process. That starts to feel like a religious war very quickly. However, it is a lead in for something I saw on the plane from Boston today.

I had the rare pleasure of being upgraded to first class for my trip home. Plane was not full and every once in a while fortune favors you. I was standing in the special little "First Class" boarding area when the started loading the plane. I was probably number 10 or so in line. About the time I arrived in front of the check in podium a tall lanky fellow ducked under the security rope and handed his ticket to the attendant, effectively cutting off the guy directly in front of me. The guy in front of me became visibly upset and said some rude things half under his breath. Everyone proceeded to board. Of course this was first class so it was inevitable that these two fellows would be seated in reasonable proximity to each other. Injured party #1 (the guy that was cut off) walked by the second guy on his way to his seat and said something else, equally as rude and probably anatomically impossible. Second guy seemed a little stunned and he proceed to crowd the first guy (who was substantially smaller) by putting hi face very close to the angry guy that was cut off. He explained that he was the 2nd guy in line and he was directed to the podium as they were boarding the plane. So, he wasn't really cutting the other guy off. However, his body language wasn't affable and it was clear that things were hitting a strong downward spiral. Then the third guy jumped in to rescue angry small guy. A little testosterone was flung like monkeys with pooh. Cabin crew got involved and oddly we spent about an hour waiting on the tarmac. Connected to angry folks? Dunno. However, this I do know. If angry rude guy hadn't said abusive things and realized that being cut off in a line for premium passengers was so small and irrelevant to anything, this wouldn't have happened. Conversely if the guy that appeared to jump in line had realized that his behavior appeared offensive (regardless of whether it was or not) and simply said, calmly and apologetically "I am sorry, I see your point. I wasn't really jumping in line, but I understand how it appears, and for that I apologize", well, angry small guy would probably have just felt silly and either backed down or  ignored it or whatever. Instead things spiraled out of control and the small picture eclipsed the big picture.

Not really an indictment of the spiral methodology, but, it is one of my (small) objections to this methodology. I am sure others use it just fine, and if I offend, I apologize in advance.