61–70 of 141 posts
Of course, there is the risk that everyone thinks McDonalds is a swell idea, and then no one will ever do anything nicer for lunch ever again. Not to stretch the analogy too far, but I have had this happen both literally and figuratively.
Exactly. I can't even begin to tell you how many times something that was supposed to be "just be a prototype" made it to production this same way.
I use a technique like this when I am stuck trying to write code and can't figure out how to do it efficiently. I ask myself "what is the worst possible way to implement this function?" and start writing that. Sure enough, that gets my mind going almost immediately and I start thinking of the improvements needed to turn it into good code.
TDD?
http://c2.com/xp/DoTheSimplestThingThatCouldPossiblyWork.htm...
Of course, there is the risk that everyone thinks McDonalds is a swell idea, and then no one will ever do anything nicer for lunch ever again. Not to stretch the analogy too far, but I have had this happen both literally and figuratively.
If everybody (but you, presumably) is happy with McDonald's then the onus is on you to change their minds. The trick only works when there is a consensus to strive higher. If you fail to do that, then, eventually, you will have to say "screw you guys, I'll go to the ramen-place alone then".
It should work equally well as a creativity trigger, and if nobody comes up with something different you still end up with a choice that's not so bad.
My coworkers used to call these "straw horses". Like straw men, but attacking them is supposed to take you somewhere.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I do this too, except I call it a "rope bridge". Write the simplest thing possible, even if it doesn't do everything you need, and then start iterating. The rope bridge will quickly become much more solid. The danger is that you leave the solution at too early a stage, and other things start relying on your flimsy rope bridge. It gets really difficult to go back and do things better.
That's test driven development sans the testing. You should try test driven development :)
My coworkers used to call these "straw horses". Like straw men, but attacking them is supposed to take you somewhere.
This is a well known psychological effect. The "powers that be" use it all the time to force their will on an initially resisting population. They first propose an obviously draconian and unfair legislation, which is then, after a public outcry, mellowed down to the originally intended form. Hey presto, everyone is now happy about "the concessions and safeguards", forgetting that in the process they got something tha…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's test driven development sans the testing. You should try test driven development :)
Interesting how TDD is so close to TTD.
For me, "TTD" in the context of a discussion about bridges just means Transport Tycoon Deluxe o_O I assume that's not it?