Yellow

1. Introduction

This is Yellow: Principles (or useless aphorisms) for software dev. Laying out “the rules” or “how it should be” has been a popular pastime among intellectuals and… This is Yellow: Principles (or useless aphorisms) for software dev. Laying out “the rules” or “how it should be” has been a popular pastime among intellectuals and…

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2. Fear is a signal

One of the worst things you can be as a software developer is fearless. The other worst thing you can be is terrified all the time. One of the worst things you can be as a software developer is fearless. The other worst thing you can be is terrified all the time.

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3. Just-in-time research

Just-in-time research will always beat trying to keep up with the web development or the software development news treadmill. This is a mistake I keep doing or have kept… Just-in-time research will always beat trying to keep up with the web development or the software development news treadmill. This is a mistake I keep doing or have kept…

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4. Technology changes slower than you think

Technology changes much more slowly than you think. This might seem like an almost heretical notion, considering everything that’s changed becomes of technology in the… Technology changes much more slowly than you think. This might seem like an almost heretical notion, considering everything that’s changed becomes of technology in the…

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5. Always maximise your understanding

Every decision you make when you’re working on a software project should be about maximising your understanding of that project. We often make the mistake of having… Every decision you make when you’re working on a software project should be about maximising your understanding of that project. We often make the mistake of having…

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6. Gall’s Law

One of my favourite laws – one of those principles that seem to be universally applicable – is Gall’s Law. People who have worked with me in the past are probably very… One of my favourite laws – one of those principles that seem to be universally applicable – is Gall’s Law. People who have worked with me in the past are probably very…

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7. Analogue

Here’s a controversial take from somebody who works in software and the software industry. Analogue tools are sometimes better, faster and cheaper than anything digital. Here’s a controversial take from somebody who works in software and the software industry. Analogue tools are sometimes better, faster and cheaper than anything digital.

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8. Don’t tinker

Tinkering is endemic to, well, businesses everywhere, in that we make a decision, we see the results, then we change what we did and see another result. Repeat until… Tinkering is endemic to, well, businesses everywhere, in that we make a decision, we see the results, then we change what we did and see another result. Repeat until…

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9. Correct and incorrect

If it’s at all possible, you should try to make sure that incorrect looks different from correct. This might sound obvious, but it’s generally not the practice. You can… If it’s at all possible, you should try to make sure that incorrect looks different from correct. This might sound obvious, but it’s generally not the practice. You can…

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10. Loose coupling

Loose coupling done right can be a superpower. But it has to come from the system that you’re using: the programming language, the platform or the software system. Loose coupling done right can be a superpower. But it has to come from the system that you’re using: the programming language, the platform or the software system.

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11. Widely used standards

A topic related to late binding or loose coupling. As a general rule, you should always prefer widely used standards, over widely used conventions, over seldom used… A topic related to late binding or loose coupling. As a general rule, you should always prefer widely used standards, over widely used conventions, over seldom used…

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12. Premature optimisation

Premature optimisation is a form of tight coupling or early binding, generally speaking. That’s why it’s usually the root of all evil. It ties your system together in a… Premature optimisation is a form of tight coupling or early binding, generally speaking. That’s why it’s usually the root of all evil. It ties your system together in a…

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13. Avoid state management

Avoid managing state as much as you can, no matter what kind of software you’re making. There’s a reason why the one universally applicable debugging or problem-solving… Avoid managing state as much as you can, no matter what kind of software you’re making. There’s a reason why the one universally applicable debugging or problem-solving…

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14. UX bugs versus complexity

Bugs hurt the user experience more than complexity helps it. What I mean with this is we need to think of the end user and the software they’re using to do their job as… Bugs hurt the user experience more than complexity helps it. What I mean with this is we need to think of the end user and the software they’re using to do their job as…

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15. The two questions

The two most important questions in software development are “what do I need to do?” and “how do I know I’ve done it?” These questions work on a more granular level than… The two most important questions in software development are “what do I need to do?” and “how do I know I’ve done it?” These questions work on a more granular level than…

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16. Don’t try to solve every problem

Absolutely do not try to solve every problem you can think of before you really have to. This ties in with the whole test-driven development thing. The test defines the… Absolutely do not try to solve every problem you can think of before you really have to. This ties in with the whole test-driven development thing. The test defines the…

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17. Throwaway prototypes

Ambitious work in software development requires prototypes that get thrown away. That’s just a hard fact. Ambitious work in software development requires prototypes that get thrown away. That’s just a hard fact.

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18. Don’t be a correctness bully

Don’t be a correctness bully. We all know the type that is just, “that’s not the way you do that”. Don’t be a correctness bully. We all know the type that is just, “that’s not the way you do that”.

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19. Worse is better, but it’s also how we got into this mess

Worse really is better. But it’s also how we got into this mess. Worse really is better. But it’s also how we got into this mess.

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20. Yellow

At the start of this project, I talked about the title, Yellow, and its inspiration, Derek Jarman’s Blue, how that was born out of his illness. At the start of this project, I talked about the title, Yellow, and its inspiration, Derek Jarman’s Blue, how that was born out of his illness.

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