Nick Wesselman, a former student, writes:
I felt inspired this morning to share the lessons I've learned. All are important,
but some are contradictory. It's finding the middle ground that's key.
- Software engineering is art.
- "It works" is never enough.
- "Good enough" is never enough.
- Be reasonable and realistic.
- Plan, plan, plan.
- Abstract, abstract, abstract.
- Reuse, reuse, reuse.
- Refactor, refactor, refactor.
- TEST, TEST, TEST.
- Always consider the WHOLE SYSTEM.
- Separate your concerns.
- Remember your patterns.
- THROW AWAY your prototype code.
- Use the tools at your disposal.
- Someone’s done it before.
- You can do it better.
- Be part of the software community and use it to your advantage.
- Google is your best friend.
- Never work in a bubble.
- If it can go wrong, it will.
- Your clients don't know what they really want until you've made a prototype
they hate.
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