Grady Booch
Chief Scientist for Software Engineering & IBM Fellow Emeritus
About Grady Booch
Grady Booch is one of the founding figures of software engineering as we know it. He co-created the Unified Modeling Language (UML) alongside Ivar Jacobson and James Rumbaugh, pioneered object-oriented design methodologies, and spent decades as an IBM Fellow working on systems of unprecedented scale.
With over 50 years of experience spanning from missile systems at Vandenberg Air Force Base to NASA's Mars mission architecture, Booch has witnessed every major transformation the software industry has undergone since the 1970s. He's uniquely positioned to offer historical perspective on today's AI-driven changes.
Career Highlights
- IBM (1981-present): Fellow Emeritus, Chief Scientist for Software Engineering
- UML Co-creator: Developed the industry-standard modeling language with Jacobson and Rumbaugh
- Object-Oriented Design: Pioneered the Booch Method for software design
- NASA Consultant: Worked on Mars mission systems architecture
- Defense Systems: Early career at Vandenberg Air Force Base on missile and space systems
- Author: "Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with Applications" remains a foundational text
Notable Positions
On AI Replacing Software Engineers
Booch argues that AI coding tools represent another level of abstraction, not a replacement for software engineering:
"Software engineers are the engineers who balance these forces... the laws of physics, the constraints of how large we can build things, algorithmic constraints, human constraints, legal issues, and ethical issues."
On Dario Amodei's 12-Month Prediction
When asked about Anthropic CEO's claim that software engineering will be automatable in 12 months:
"I'd say politely, well I'll use a scientific term... it's utter BS. I think he's profoundly wrong. He has a fundamental misunderstanding as to what software engineering is."
On Historical Perspective
"This is not the first existential crisis developers have faced. They have faced the same kind of existential crisis in the first and second generation."
On What Changes vs. What Remains
"You are actually being freed because some of the friction, some of the constraints, some of the costs of development are actually disappearing for you."
Key Quotes
- "The entire history of software engineering is one of rising levels of abstraction."
- "Fear not, O developers. Your tools are changing, but your problems are not."
- "There are more things in computing, Dario, that are dreamt of in your philosophy."
- "This is an exciting time to be in the industry. It's frightening at the same time, but that's as it should be."
Related Reading
- Agentic Coding - The new level of abstraction Booch discusses
- Future of Work - The broader trend this fits into
Video Appearances
Software engineering history
Grady Booch is one of the founding figures of software engineering as we know it. He co-created UML, pioneered object-oriented design, spent decades as an IBM fellow.
at 00:00:00
Response to Dario Amodei's automation prediction
I'd say politely, well I'll use a scientific term in terms of how I would characterize what Dario said... It's utter BS. I think he's profoundly wrong.
at 00:25:00
Historical perspective on AI fears
This is not the first existential crisis developers have faced. They have faced the same kind of existential crisis in the first and second generation.
at 00:35:00