In the past few years, there have been some positive shifts in how software developers interact with their customers.
Anthropologically, we're an interesting bunch. Many years ago, our work was viewed as backroom; we had little or no contact with the people that were using our software. We saw computers as something like mythical beasts and computer programmers as their keepers.
Now, in just the same way that technology has proliferated into everyday life, so too have software developers. Where before we'd use go-betweens such as project managers and business analysts, software developers now have direct contact with the people who use our software. In fact, in this past decade, we've begun to see a shift from having separate IT departments to the increasing integration of our business and technology groups. This transition has...