“There is a maximally efficient way to design a piece of software”
This isn’t at all true. There are so many different ways to go about software design that efficient code or operation is a secondary concern to many many other factors. I can design the same piece of software in .NET, JAVA, C etc. What database, what middleware etc etc... Once you have all that put down and you’re actually writing code do you go pure Object Oriented or Procedural, maybe a hybrid?
I can write some incredibly efficient code, but it would be unreadable and barely maintainable. Familiar with really long Regex anyone? So most software engineers balance efficiency with maintainability.
Bottom line is Software design is not a Science, it’s an Art.
And Gates shouldn’t be the one talking standardization. Microsoft is horrible. Apple would be the one to talk to about standardization.
My husband and I are both software engineers. We think Commin Core was written by a bunch of people who are good at writing. So the kids that are good at math and science will be screwed.
I’m sorry, but it you are good at math you just do most of it in your head. Who cares how you did it if you get the right answer.