The a16z Show · Monday, July 13, 2026
Computer scientist Barbara Liskov emphasized the critical role of modularity in software development, comparing it to the structure of mathematical theorems. She stated that modularity, with its distinct components and specifications, is essential for managing complexity and ensuring correctness in large programs.
“I would say modularity is everything in building large programs.”
“You know, you have each module, it's got a specification, you can do a proof of the correctness of the code that implements the module without having to look at any other modules' code, you just look at the specifications of other modules.”