I've heard wise engineers mutter YAGNI.

· Bits and Bobs 7/21/25
  • I've heard wise engineers mutter YAGNI.
    • That is, "You Ain't Gonna Need It."
      • Pea brain: "I'll just implement it whatever way feels natural because I don't know what I'll need in the future."
      • Midwit: "I'll design with abstractions for flexibility, since requirements will inevitably change in the future."
      • Galaxy brain: "I'll just implement whatever way feels natural because by the time I know what I need, whatever abstractions I would have written will be wrong and I'll have to rewrite anyway."
    • Once you do end up needing it it's different than you anticipated anyway.
    • You did the work too early, and it doesn't work by the time you need it, and in the meantime you have ongoing carrying cost for it.
    • Once you recognize that you'll rewrite anyway, you can be free.