20200812, avoid premature optimisation and keep your options open
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Knuth wrote, "premature optimization is the root of all evil."

A common reaction to this,

    Premature optimisation is the root of all evil... therefore we should take
    the shortest path possible to the outcome we are working towards.

This attitude creates technology debt.


A better mindset,

    Premature optimisation is the root of all evil... therefore we should
    instead move quickly whilst leaving our options open.

Usually, the problem you need to solve is different than the one you set out
to solve. You only discover this while you are on the path, and then you need
to change focus.

Once you have built a system, you will want to maintain it.


Hack towards an outcome. Do so in a way that keeps your options open.