The Effects of Hype in the Software Domain: Causes, Consequences, and Mitigations

Hype is a common phenomenon in competitive environments, including in software engineering. It generally involves overstating the benefits, significance, or potential impact of some new product or idea, usually before they are fully vetted. It seems, however, that some unique characteristics of software make it exceptionally susceptible to hype when compared to more traditional engineering disciplines. In this article, we first identify the reasons behind this, discuss its ramifications, and, finally, propose some potential mitigation strategies.