The Immutable Laws of Web Design and Development | Blue Flavor
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Saved by 26 people (-1 private), first by anonymouse user on 2008-02-12
- Sachaa on 2008-09-04 - Tags development , programming , ideas , design , quotations , philosophy
- Jbreton on 2008-05-05 - Tags development , humour , webdesign , design , web , for:lord_ashram , for:lord.disease , for:lefouvert
- Jdblack64 on 2008-03-26 - Tags article , blogs , humor , webdesign
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Public Sticky notes
The Immutable Laws of Web Design and Development
Posted in Thinking on February 7, 2008 | 20 Comments
Occasionally smart people say pretty smart things. The computing world likes to call these pearls of wisdom laws. They also like to name each law after the person who coined it. Take, for instance, the most well-known of all the computing world’s laws, Moore’s Law, which is named after Intel founder Gordan E. Moore.
In the web industry we have no such laws. While computer software and engineering is a science, web work isn’t. I view web work as an amalgamation of a variety of crafts and disciplines, like behavioral psychology, art and design, information sciences - and, since the end medium depends on technology, part computer science.
Given that last bit, it makes sense that some computing laws would apply to the world of the web. Since I have an awful time remembering them, I figured I’d write down the ones that have been helpful to me in my career in the web industry.
Brooks’ Law
Adding manpower to a late software project makes it even later.
Probably the law I quote the most. I can’t tell you how many times a client has asked, ” Can’t we just throw another guy at the problem?”
Parkinson’s Law
Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.
In other words, we’re talking about ‘scope creep’. Keep projects short and sweet—Otherwise, they tend to become unmanageable beasts.
Hoare’s Law of Large Programs
Inside every large problem is a small problem struggling to get out.
A perfect reminder that we often create larger problems from small ones. Always remember to focus on the goal or need. Everything else is secondary.
Lister’s Law
People under time pressure don’t think faster.
Tell this to any startup and they will probably show you to the door, but it’s very true. The only result you get from putting people under pressure is unnecessary s
Highlighted by maartencannaerts
The Immutable Laws of Web Design and Development
Posted in Thinking on February 7, 2008 | 20 Comments
Occasionally smart people say pretty smart things. The computing world likes to call these pearls of wisdom laws. They also like to name each law after the person who coined it. Take, for instance, the most well-known of all the computing world’s laws, Moore’s Law, which is named after Intel founder Gordan E. Moore.
In the web industry we have no such laws. While computer software and engineering is a science, web work isn’t. I view web work as an amalgamation of a variety of crafts and disciplines, like behavioral psychology, art and design, information sciences - and, since the end medium depends on technology, part computer science.
Given that last bit, it makes sense that some computing laws would apply to the world of the web. Since I have an awful time remembering them, I figured I’d write down the ones that have been helpful to me in my career in the web industry.
Brooks’ Law
Adding manpower to a late software project makes it even later.
Probably the law I quote the most. I can’t tell you how many times a client has asked, ” Can’t we just throw another guy at the problem?”
Parkinson’s Law
Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.
In other words, we’re talking about ‘scope creep’. Keep projects short and sweet—Otherwise, they tend to become unmanageable beasts.
Hoare’s Law of Large Programs
Inside every large problem is a small problem struggling to get out.
A perfect reminder that we often create larger problems from small ones. Always remember to focus on the goal or need. Everything else is secondary.
Lister’s Law
People under time pressure don’t think faster.
Tell this to any startup and they will probably show you to the door, but it’s very true. The only result you get from putting people under pressure is unnecessary s
Highlighted by maartencannaerts
A task always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.
Highlighted by christyinsdesign
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