IEEE Software - The Pragmatic Designer: Stable Code from Stable Problems

This column was published in IEEE Software, The Pragmatic Designer column, May-June 2026, Vol 43, number 3. ABSTRACT: Lehman’s Laws distinguish between stable S-type and volatile E-type code. Developers can decompose unique problems methodically by seeking standard sub-problems, which reduces complexity and boosts productivity. This illuminates the nature of software engineering, which is needed…