Balancing Rapid Development with Thoughtful Engineering Practices
Fear of over-engineering has killed engineering altogether 🔗
Fear of over-engineering has led to a decline in engineering practices within the tech industry, where the focus has shifted towards rapid shipping rather than careful planning. The article argues for a balanced approach that incorporates engineering principles, specifically through concepts like Napkin Math and Fermi Problems. By making informed predictions about time, space, and cost, developers can avoid potential pitfalls and create more efficient systems. The author shares insights from personal experience while building a project called fika, demonstrating how simple calculations can inform better decision-making and architecture without excessive complexity.
- The shift from rigorous planning to rapid iteration has negatively impacted engineering quality.
- Napkin Math and Fermi Problems help predict project feasibility through basic calculations.
- The author provides examples of cost and storage calculations for their project, fika, illustrating the importance of informed assumptions.
What is the main argument of the article?
The article argues for the importance of balancing rapid development with thoughtful engineering practices to improve project outcomes and efficiency.
What are Napkin Math and Fermi Problems?
Napkin Math refers to simple calculations that help estimate project requirements, while Fermi Problems involve making educated guesses about quantities when exact data is unavailable.
How did the author use calculations in their project, fika?
The author used calculations to estimate storage needs, costs, and potential user behavior, which helped inform decisions on architecture and features for the project.