Bertolt Brecht, an influential German playwright and lyricist of the 20th century, wrote the following poem in 1935 during his exile in Denmark. Similar to what is portrayed in the lyrics, great software is never built by a single person. Great software is (most) always the product of a teams, or group of peers, work, and thus a collaborative effort.
Who built the seven-gated Thebes? The names of kings are written in the books. Did the kings bring the boulders? And Babylon, destroyed several times Who rebuilt it so many times? In which houses Of golden Lima did the builders dwell? Where did the masons go the night the Great Wall of China was finished? The masons? The great Rome Is full of triumphal arches. Who built them? Over whom did the Caesars triumph over? Did the much praised Byzantium have Only palaces for its inhabitants? Even in the legendary Atlantis In the night, where the sea swallowed it up were the drowning ones shouting for their slaves. Young Alexander conquered India. He alone? Caesar beat the Gauls. Didn't he at least have a cook with him? Philip of Spain wept when his fleet was sunk. Did no one else cry? Frederick the Second was victorious in the Seven Years' War. Who Won besides him? Each side a victory. Who cooked the victory feast? Every ten years a great man. Who paid the expenses? So many reports. So many questions.
Wer baute das siebentorige Theben? In den Büchern stehen die Namen von Königen. Haben die Könige die Felsbrocken herbeigeschleppt? Und das mehrmals zerstörte Babylon Wer baute es so viele Male auf? In welchen Häusern Des goldstrahlenden Lima wohnten die Bauleute? Wohin gingen an dem Abend, wo die Chinesische Mauer fertig war Die Maurer? Das große Rom Ist voll von Triumphbögen. Wer errichtete sie? Über wen Triumphierten die Cäsaren? Hatte das vielbesungene Byzanz Nur Paläste für seine Bewohner? Selbst in dem sagenhaften Atlantis Brüllten in der Nacht, wo das Meer es verschlang Die Ersaufenden nach ihren Sklaven. Der junge Alexander eroberte Indien. Er allein? Cäsar schlug die Gallier. Hatte er nicht wenigstens einen Koch bei sich? Philipp von Spanien weinte, als seine Flotte Untergegangen war. Weinte sonst niemand? Friedrich der Zweite siegte im Siebenjährigen Krieg. Wer Siegte außer ihm? Jede Seite ein Sieg. Wer kochte den Siegesschmaus? Alle zehn Jahre ein großer Mann. Wer bezahlte die Spesen? So viele Berichte. So viele Fragen.