The guidelines in this article help in developing educational software. The first rule is that educators should not develop software for education, but should develop an "educational system" that uses software. The distinction is that the former is primarily concerned with the computer and its requirements while the latter focuses on educating the student. The steps involved in developing a system are: (1) specify goals; (2) specify objectives; (3) decide on an instructional method; (4) analyze the audience; (5) evaluate the continuum; and (6) write the system and any computer programs it may require. An educator does not need to be a programmer; professionals can translate the description into a program. The final step is to field test the system and make any necessary changes. (DC)