Cleveland Web Design by Designing Interactive
March 9, 2008
Welcoming Constraints
By: Josh Walsh in Business
As software developers we often find ourselves running low on time, money or patience. While these constraints often cause frustration, they are actually good things.
Constraints are simple solutions in disguise. When you find yourself working hard on a problem and seem to be progressing slowly, take the constraint as a sign to step back and examine the problem again.
The simplest answer is usually the correct answer.
Occam’s Razor says:
Ignoring Constraints
It’s natural to ignore constraints. After all, they cause us pain and we are taught to keep emotions out of our business. However, ignoring these constraints will lead to software which is counter-intuitive to use.
Resist the urge to throw more money/people/time at the problem to fix it. People under pressure do not work faster and additional funds just provides an excuse to deliver late.
Exceptions
There are times when constraints are caused by other situations. You may have a more serious problem to deal with if the constraints are caused by:
- Poor planning
- Lazy people
- Bad project management
- Counter productive working atmosphere
- Distractions caused by Twitter
Comments
Danny Sedor » March 10, 2008
As an independant I am the first to admit that I am prone to distractions. Family takes up alot of my time and sometimes being your own boss can, in itself, be its own distraction. Organization is the key to any project in any field. Sadly, I have often been a victim of my own poor planning.