As soon as I get a chance this weekend, I'll be doing a write-up on Thursday's Software Craftsmanship 2009 conference. But I just wanted to share a thought before then about the debate that's been bubbling away on various blogs, discussion groups, lonely hearts classifieds and electric parsnips about this craftsmanship metaphor.

To me, at least, it's not a metaphor. A craftsman is someone who applies skill and care to the creation of a high quality end product. It is in...