-The only thing worse than generalizing from one example is generalizing from no examples at all.
-If a problem is not completely understood, it is probably best to provide no solution at all.
-If you can get 90 percent of the desired effect for 10 percent of the work, use the simpler solution.
-Isolate complexity as much as possible.
-Provide mechanism rather than policy. In particular, place user interface policy in the clients’ hands.
-Do not add new functionality unless an implementor cannot complete a real application without it.
-It is as important to decide what a system is not as to decide what it is. Do not serve all the world’s needs; rather, make the system extensible so that additional needs can be met in an upwardly compatible fashion.
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Bob Scheifler and Jim Gettys, the programers who designed the X Window System, which manages the windows on most computer systems Although these principles were intended for computer programers, I think they’re pretty good guidelines for dealing most problems/projects in life. |
