Software design is a sharp tool. Some folks don’t know they can wield it. Some folks who wield it grab it by the blade, not the handle. That’s one big reason why I’m writing about software design. It goes back to my personal mission statement: help geeks feel safe in the world.
This sentence: "I want you to get used to manipulating the structure of your code just as much as you manipulate its structure." probably should read "I want you to get used to manipulating the structure of your code just as much as you manipulate its *behavior*."
Kent I just recently subscribed to your Substack. I see you keep referring to “tidy first” as a book in several of your articles. Are you actually writing a book or plan on writing a book by that title?
I like the design-as-a-puzzle metaphor. It made me think of how I feel when I do sudoku: as I solve more and more individual cells, that leads to bigger (and more) solutions becoming easier, the momentum building until the final satisfaction of puzzle completion and sitting back to see the "beautiful" solution I've achieved.
OK, so my metaphor kinda falls apart at the end; I do love seeing beautiful designs emerge, but I don't really find solved sudoku puzzles "beautiful, " only satisfying.
Why I Came to Write "Tidy First?"
This sentence: "I want you to get used to manipulating the structure of your code just as much as you manipulate its structure." probably should read "I want you to get used to manipulating the structure of your code just as much as you manipulate its *behavior*."
Kent I just recently subscribed to your Substack. I see you keep referring to “tidy first” as a book in several of your articles. Are you actually writing a book or plan on writing a book by that title?
I like the design-as-a-puzzle metaphor. It made me think of how I feel when I do sudoku: as I solve more and more individual cells, that leads to bigger (and more) solutions becoming easier, the momentum building until the final satisfaction of puzzle completion and sitting back to see the "beautiful" solution I've achieved.
OK, so my metaphor kinda falls apart at the end; I do love seeing beautiful designs emerge, but I don't really find solved sudoku puzzles "beautiful, " only satisfying.