John Ousterhout, professor of computer science at Stanford University, joined SE Radio host Jeff Doolittle for a conversation about his book, A Philosophy of Software Design. They discussed the history and ongoing challenges of software system design, especially the nature of complexity and the difficulties handling it. The conversation also explored various design concepts from the book, such as modularity, layering, abstraction, information hiding, maintainability, and readability.

John Ousterhout, a Stanford Professor and author, delves into the intricacies of software design based on his extensive academic and industry experience. He emphasizes the importance of mastering design principles to manage complexity, advocating for deep classes with simple interfaces. Ousterhout discusses innovative approaches to software education, focusing on collaboration and constructive feedback. He also critiques conventional error handling practices and highlights hiring for potential over past experience, aiming to reshape how we think about coding and design.