Computer -> Hard, unchanging, chunk of metal and silicon

Programming -> Unambiguous instructions

Now contrast that to a Software System at the opposite end of the scale :

Software -> Not hard. Inherently Changeable.

System -> Complex, composed of many intricately inter-related parts, often autonomous intelligent agents.

So, how to we get from the soft, mushy, difficult to describe thing, to the dumb, unambiguous “does what it’s told” thing?

We need to match the Software to the Computer, and the System to the Program.

How?

Architecture and Poetry.

Poetry, because we inherently see Systems as Symbolic entities. We must find words and terms which elegantly express the issues in a meaningful way, and communicate the maximum of intent with the least possible verbosity.

Architecture, because we create frameworks which let us reduce complex systems into dumb, obvious problems, which can be pieced together by many people. The architecture itself, is then what eases change of the system itself, by facilitating the swapping out of simple, clearly wired, dumb bits of code.