The saying refers to the roundness of the wheel, which has not been re-invented for thousands of years. Changing the material are optimization which deserve much credit but aren't new inventions on the definition of the wheel. Wikipedia defines a wheel as "A wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center"
Don't Reinvent the Wheel
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Re: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
#32I guess an old post from my blog is relevant (I think it was already submitted to HN a long time ago): http://www.mostlymaths.net/2010/03/8-reasons-for-re-inventin...
Re: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree with you; however, it's also possible that English is not the posters original language.
In that case, it is even more important to do some basic proofreading. Or ask some fried to do so.
When the same mistake is made multiple times, that's an indication that it's not a proofreading error - instead it points to a poor understanding of English (and maybe other things).
Re: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
#34In the context of startups, I think reinventing the wheel makes sense when it's your primary product and you can do better than what's out there. Most of the examples listed in the article fit this. If it's what you spend all day thinking about and working on, you're probably better suited to reinvent it than anybody else.
Reinventing the wheel doesn't make as much sense for something that isn't your core product. For example, if you're trying to create the next personal financial webapp, it may not make sense to embark on a project to create a new JavaScript AJAX framework or message processing queue, since those aren't your product and there are a bunch of decent libraries already. There are counterexamples to this (Ruby on Rails), but in most cases, startups with limited resources need to take advantage of existing libraries/systems as much as possible. Reusing existing technology frees up more time to worry about your core product.
Re: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
#35Don't reinvent the wheel if you have no clear reason / vision to do so. Period. Also most "re-inventions" are driven by a lack of understanding of the existing solutions or the non existing faith to stick to conventions. Many of the conventions are probably a legacy and should be "attacked" BUT if you do that, have a clear vision and reason to do so. Just don't go the road because it looks easier. It won't.
Agreed, I think the OP is missing the real meaning of the phrase "don't reinvent the wheel". The phrase does NOT mean "don't improve on the wheel". Nor does it mean, "The stone wheel is and always was great, don't try new materials." It means, "Don't create this whole thing from scratch thinking its original and new, when some research will reveal that it isn't." In patent terms, it means, "Check for prior art."
Linus Torvalds (OP's example) had a deep knowledge of Unix before he began what became Linux. If he hadn't such knowledge, he would have not been successful, for one of the great draws of Linux was its familiarity. In other words, he didn't "reinvent the wheel".
Re: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why? You knew precisely what he meant, which is the whole point of English.
\/\/4y i5 i7 i/v\p0r7@n7 70 c@r3 a80u7 t34 k\/\/@1i7y 0f k0mmun1k@7i0n?
Hmm. I use a password in the similar vein of 1Q@w3E$r
You can most assuredly figure what it is, and the stupid pattern I follow.
Now, one thing I failed to remember is my girlfriend is dyslexic. Unless she hunts and pecks one key at a time, she cannot read, or even comprehend, that password. L33t is also the same way: its unreadable to her. Though, one really cool thing about her dyslexia is we can read the same book together: I read it right side up, and she reads it upside down (she reads faster that way too).
Re: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
#37Is there anything more reinvented than the wheel? This line is brilliant. How often does one run across such a definitive reply to a shibboleth?
That's not what a shibboleth is.
Re: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
#38Don't reinvent the wheel if you have no clear reason / vision to do so. Period. Also most "re-inventions" are driven by a lack of understanding of the existing solutions or the non existing faith to stick to conventions. Many of the conventions are probably a legacy and should be "attacked" BUT if you do that, have a clear vision and reason to do so. Just don't go the road because it looks easier. It won't.
Reinventing just about any wheel will at least teach you a lot about how that type of wheel works, even if your reinvention never makes it into production.
Re: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
#39So, this is a top5 post on HN?
>The phrase it's self is flawed.
itself. I stopped reading there.
Re: Don't Reinvent the Wheel
#40What I have discovered is the more you learn about any particular technology the more you fully understand its weaknesses and limitations. If you learn enough you eventually get so frusterated that you have no option other than to sit down and start over from the beginning.